Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. It is absorbed easily into the tooth enamel and helps teeth resist decay. Fluoride can be found in the foods we eat and the fluoride in our drinking water. If your drinking water is not fluoridated, your dentist may recommend a fluoride supplement.
How does fluoride prevent cavities?
Fluoride helps strengthen oral enamel against tooth decay. Cavities develop when oral bacteria are left on the teeth long enough to produce acids that eat away at the enamel. Fluoride works to remineralize tooth enamel, helping teeth resist decay.
Benefits of fluoride
- Strengthens teeth and guards against tooth decay
Fluoride can help make your teeth stronger in two ways. First, it can reverse early tooth decay. When teeth begin to decay, acid is produced, affecting the enamel. Fluoride can interrupt this process, helping teeth remineralize.
Secondly, fluoride can protect teeth from the effects of decay and erosion. Enamel is weakened by acid, and sugars and starches can erode enamel, causing it to be thinner and weaker. Fluoride helps teeth remineralize and can protect the enamel from further damage.
- Strengthens developing teeth
Fluoride strengthens developing teeth, making them more resistant to decay. That’s why the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that your children receive fluoride treatment between the ages of six months and 16 years.
- Strengthens the enamel
Fluoride helps strengthen enamel, making it harder for the acids in plaque to harm the teeth. Enamel that is healthy isn’t porous, so acids cannot penetrate.
- Helps prevent dental hypersensitivity
Fluoride is a mineral that can help prevent dental hypersensitivity. Dental hypersensitivity is a sudden reaction that can cause pain or discomfort. The mineral binds to the enamel of your teeth, replacing the minerals that were lost due to acid. Because of this, the minerals can help repair tooth decay, which can help prevent cavities.
Who benefits from fluoride?
Fluoride is both a naturally occurring mineral and an additive that can be added to water, toothpaste, mouthwash, and even to prescription gels and varnishes. Many people can benefit from fluoride, but children particularly have an increased risk of developing tooth decay.
Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel, which is essential in the fight against tooth decay. This is because fluoride actually penetrates or seeps into the enamel to fortify and strengthen it. This makes it much more difficult for bacteria to erode the teeth and also helps remineralize the tooth’s enamel. When teeth are properly protected and harmful bacteria are kept at bay, oral health will improve. Fluoride also helps to protect tooth enamel from acid erosion, which can occur due to dietary habits or dry mouth.
How can I improve my fluoride intake?
Many people don’t realize that fluoride is available in the form of a topical rinse. This rinse is very easy to use and can be applied at home. Using a fluoride rinse is a great way to get the fluoride that is recommended for cavity prevention. Another way to meet your fluoride requirement is to ask your dentist for a fluoride treatment.
If you want to learn more about fluoride treatment, contact Dental Arts of Boston at (617) 266-0441 today to book an appointment with the Dentist in Boston, MA. Our team can offer guidance and make product recommendations for your unique smile.