Fluoride
Dr. Gerda and her team at Gerda Family Dental strive to provide patients with comprehensive, thorough preventive dental care designed to keep their teeth and gums healthy. Professional fluoride treatments are quick, simple, and non-invasive. Many patients can benefit from this preventive treatment, as it can help strengthen their teeth and protect them from tooth decay.
What Is Fluoride, and How Does It Help Your Teeth?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, and it’s one of the minerals that your tooth enamel is made of. Fluoride can help strengthen the tooth by remineralizing enamel after it has been broken down due to exposure to acids in foods, drinks, or that have been produced by harmful bacteria inside the mouth.
Fluoride can strengthen teeth both topically when applied to the teeth and internally when ingested.
Additionally, fluoride can sometimes help address tooth sensitivity in patients suffering from receding gum tissues and exposed dentin.
Where To Get Fluoride
Fluoride can be found in various over-the-counter dental care products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and mouth rinses. It can also be ingested in city water systems that add fluoride to the water and through dietary supplements (we strongly recommend checking with a dental professional before adding a fluoride supplement to your healthcare regimen).
In addition to these sources, professional fluoride treatments can also be accessed at your dentist’s office.
Why You Might Need Professional Fluoride Treatments
While many patients get enough fluoride in their at-home oral hygiene routines, others can benefit greatly from professional treatments. However, professional fluoride treatments can’t hurt your teeth; they can only strengthen them, so they’re a healthy choice for everyone wishing to boost their oral health.
That being said, we strongly recommend fluoride treatments for developing children, patients who are exceptionally prone to cavities, patients who are experiencing the earliest stage of tooth decay, and patients who have sensitive teeth.
What To Expect During a Fluoride Treatment
Professional fluoride treatments come in a variety of forms, such as gels or foams that are delivered in dental trays, in addition to sticky varnishes that are painted right onto the surfaces of the teeth. Regardless of the type of professional fluoride treatment you receive, your treatment will be quick, simple, and painless.
We’ll apply your fluoride treatment after a thorough dental cleaning and examination. Your teeth will be free from plaque and tartar buildup, allowing the fluoride uninhibited access to the entire surface area of your tooth enamel.
After your treatment is complete, we’ll instruct you not to eat or drink for at least 30 minutes to ensure your teeth absorb as much fluoride from the treatment as possible.
Comprehensive Preventive Dental Care in Columbus, Ohio
At Gerda Family Dental, we truly believe that the best medicine is prevention, and that’s why we emphasize proactive, preventive dental care strategies designed to help our patients achieve and maintain good oral health for life.
To learn more about professional fluoride treatments, we welcome you to ask whether fluoride treatments might be right for you during your next dental exam. For more information or to schedule an appointment at Gerda Family Dental, please contact our office today.
