Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is found in food, water, toothpaste, varnishes, and supplements. Fluoride restores minerals such as calcium and phosphate ions to the teeth through remineralization.
This protects the teeth from acid attacks that occur when plaque feeds off of left behind food particles and converts sugars into acids that attack the tooth enamel. Fluoride treatments not only prevent cavities but also reverse early-stage tooth decay.
It’s important to get enough fluoride through your drinking water, to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, and to get regular fluoride treatments to reduce your risk of developing cavities. Contact us at Bria Dental to schedule an appointment for a fluoride treatment today.
You can get a fluoride treatment anywhere from every 3-12 months, depending on your lifestyle and cavity risk. If you have poor oral hygiene, eat a poor diet, suffer from dry mouth, consume excessive alcohol or drugs, and have weak tooth enamel, you are at higher risk for developing cavities.
These people would need more frequent fluoride treatments and may even need a prescription fluoride rinse. Consult with your dentist for how often you should be returning for a fluoride treatment. This can vary from every 3, 6, 9, or 12 months.
Fluoride treatments are typically only covered by dental plans for children because children are more prone to developing cavities than adults. Therefore, fluoride treatments in children are a more crucial preventative measure that will save money and time on more complex dental treatments that could be avoided.
However, fluoride treatments are often not covered by insurance for adults. Contact your insurance provider to find out the details of your specific plan. The good news is that fluoride varnish is a very cost-effective treatment. We accept CareCredit and offer an in-office Smile Savers Plan to help reduce dental costs.
Fluoride and fluoride treatments are completely safe and beneficial for children and adults. However, excessive fluoride intake in children can cause a condition called fluorosis, which causes white spots to form on their teeth.
Children under the age of 8 are at the highest risk for fluorosis. This is why it's important to use age-appropriate amounts of toothpaste. Children under 3 years old should only use fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice and children older than 3 can use a pea-sized amount.
Children under 6 years old should also avoid mouthwashes containing fluoride. Some people are allergic to fluoride and should avoid these treatments, but this is very uncommon. Some people have heard that fluoride is toxic or unsafe but these claims are unfounded. While excessive fluoride can cause fluorosis, this only causes discoloration in the teeth and does not cause any health problems.
Fluoride provides overwhelming benefits to protect your teeth, prevent, and even reverse tooth decay. The only time fluoride can be a concern is when a patient has a rare fluoride allergy.
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