Your oral health impacts your overall health as well as your appearance. Dealing with tooth decay can be both painful and frustrating, which is why preventive care is crucial for you and your whole family. That’s where fluoride can make a difference. Learn more about how fluoride can help by turning to Empire Dental Care, a team of experts in family dentistry in Webster, NY.
Fluoride and Oral Health
To understand how fluoride helps, it’s first essential to know how tooth decay occurs. The process primarily involves bacteria, which create acids that wear down your teeth’s outer covering, known as the enamel.
Without the enamel’s full protection, bacteria can easily enter your teeth, infecting the pulp of the tooth. Once the pulp is infected, the tooth will need a root canal treatment or extraction.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can resist the demineralization that occurs when bacteria create acids. It helps to strengthen the enamel, making it easier to prevent cavities and other dental problems.[1] As such, everyone in your family stands to benefit from fluoride, from infants to grown-ups.
Using fluoride toothpaste can be an excellent means of introducing more of the mineral into your daily life. Some mouthwashes also have fluoride, but if you want one with a strong concentration, you’ll have to get a prescription from your dentist.
It’s also helpful to learn if the tap water in your area has fluoride already, as many do add the mineral.
In some instances, fluoride treatments can be the most effective way of boosting oral health. These treatments involve your dentist using foam or gel that goes into a tray that is then fitted over your teeth. It can also be used as a varnish painted right over your teeth in gel form.
Addressing Fluoride Treatment Myths With Experts in Family Dentistry in Webster, NY
There has been plenty of talk regarding fluoride when it comes to dental care. And that, inevitably, has led to some misconceptions about the mineral.
Myth #1: One of the most common myths out there is that fluoride is harmful.
But when used correctly and under the direction of a dentist, fluoride poses no risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Dental Association, and the World Health Organization all approve of it.
Myth #2: Another common myth is that fluoride toothpaste is only for children because they have growing teeth.
However, people of all ages can benefit from the mineral, as tooth decay can occur at any stage in life. And since fluoride can help prevent up to 25% of cavities, family dentistry experts will always recommend that the entire family use (appropriate amounts of) fluoride.[2]
Myth #3: Another common myth is that fluoride can cause fluorosis, a condition that can lead to the development of white or brown specks on teeth that are still growing.
However, it only occurs if someone consumes a significant amount of fluoride regularly. And even then, it’s a rare cosmetic problem that doesn’t impact health.
Myth #4: One last myth surrounding fluoride is that it can lose its efficacy with time.
Your body doesn’t become immune to the effects of fluoride, so you can continue to experience benefits even when using it throughout your entire life.
Turn to Empire Dental Care for Family Dentistry in Webster
Fluoride is one of the most effective tools to combat the demineralization of teeth caused by bacteria. By relying on toothpaste, mouthwashes, and even tap water infused with fluoride, you know you’re giving your teeth the minerals they need to stay strong and healthy.
At Empire Dental Care, our team of family dentistry experts in Webster, NY, offer fluoride treatments. These treatments provide reliable results for people who can benefit from them based on our doctor’s recommendations.
Learn more about our fluoride treatments and schedule an appointment with our team today by calling us at 585-671-1650.
Sources:
[1] https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/fluoride
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/php/infographics/how-fluoride-works.html
