Fluoride Treatments Help Prevent and Reverse Tooth Decay

A naturally occurring mineral, fluoride helps develop strong teeth by avoiding cavities. Tap water in Canada has contained trace amounts of fluoride for over seven decades to help reduce tooth decay. The CDA confirms that fluoridated water has helped reduce cavities by 25 percent.

If you want to protect your teeth, you may receive more significant benefits by getting in-office fluoride treatments in Welland, ON, from a dentist. Professional fluoride treatments are specifically beneficial if you’re at risk of cavities but may not be suitable for everyone.

This article looks at the benefits and downsides of fluoride and fluoride therapy besides the treatment recommendations.

Fluoride Treatments Defined

Generally, fluoride treatments are professional therapies provided by dentists containing higher doses of fluoride than are available in toothpaste. A higher fluoride concentration is applied by a dentist or hygienist to your teeth to improve dental health and reduce cavity risks. In-office fluoride treatments are provided by dentists using solutions, gels, foam and varnish. The fluoride contains higher doses to offer instant benefits.

Advantages of Fluoride and Fluoride Therapy

Fluoride has many advantages for your teeth because it helps your body better use minerals like calcium and phosphate, which your teeth absorb to repair weak enamel. As a result, fluoride joins into the tooth structure of developing teeth, helping strengthen the enamel and making the teeth invulnerable to bacteria and cavities. In addition, fluoride can also slow the onset of cavities by harming the bacteria causing them.

Combined, the advantages can help minimize the risk of cavities, slowing their growth and delaying the requirement of expensive dental work. While reducing the time and money you may spend at the dentist, fluoride also helps prolong the longevity of baby teeth.

When you prevent cavity teeth and slow the development of bacteria, fluoride helps prevent gum disease, minimize tooth pain, and prevent premature tooth loss.

The WHO claims fluoride treatments help improve oral health, which significantly contributes to overall health. However, inappropriate oral health causes many other health conditions affecting your entire body and needing treatments from different medical professionals instead of merely dentists.

Adverse Effects of Fluoride

Concerns have been expressed by some natural health advocates claiming fluoride in high doses is not safe for children and even fluoridated water is unsafe. However, these are myths that fluoride causes widespread harm because merely a few people experience some adverse effects of the aesthetic variety.

Tooth discoloration is the most common adverse effect of fluoride. The discoloration called fluorosis causes white streaks or other discoloration on teeth and occurs when children ingest excessive fluoride when their baby or permanent teeth are developing. Children can develop fluorosis from birth until eight years. The discoloration is common among children consuming too much fluoride by swallowing toothpaste or taking fluoride supplements.

The CDA has set guidelines on the amount of fluoride drinking water can contain as a preventive measure for tooth decay while minimizing the risk of fluorosis. They recommend 0.7 milligrams of fluoride for every litre of water. They also suggest refraining children from using too much fluoride toothpaste when brushing to prevent the risk of fluorosis by accidentally swallowing it.

Fluoride Treatment Recommendations

The CDA recommends frequent fluoride exposure to tiny amounts daily to reduce dental cavities for patients of all ages. In most cases, it means drinking tap water with optimal fluoride levels and brushing teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride treatments at the dentist’s office provide additional benefits for children and adults at higher risk of cavities.

The Effectiveness of Fluoride Treatments

Topical fluoride treatments from dentists are incredibly effective, and gold-standard scientific studies of these therapies establish their effectiveness in preventing decay. Scientific studies also state fluoride has a substantial effect on preventing cavities in primary and permanent teeth.

Fluoride treatments are safe for everyone. However, people who develop adverse effects can rest assured they will remain minimal than the benefits of fluoride treatments. Swallowing high amounts of fluoride is likely to cause the most harm by leaving white streaks on the teeth that may require teeth whitening treatments. Unfortunately, fluoride treatments are not safe for everyone at all times. If you have cavities or decay, you must discuss your concerns with the Well and provider before receiving in-office fluoride treatments.

Discuss concerns about your cavities and the risk of decay with Rose City Dental Care to determine whether the treatment suits your needs. If they decide it is suitable to receive the treatment to prevent cavities and minimize tooth pain or dental treatments.