How do fluoride treatments work

A child can develop fluorosis from birth to 8 years of age. Discoloration is more common among young children who consume too much fluoride, either because they take fluoride supplements or swallow toothpaste. The United States Public Health Service have set guidelines for the amount of fluoride that community drinking water should contain to help prevent tooth decay and minimize the risk of dental fluorosis.

This level currently stands at 0. Experts recommend that even children who are too young to spit the toothpaste out themselves should use fluoridated toothpaste. A person may have an allergic reaction to fluoride or experience skin irritation, though these reactions are rare.

Fluoride can be toxic if a person applies it incorrectly or at very high doses. However, this is unusual. Fluoride varnish is the preferred option for young children, as they tend to swallow foams or gels, which may cause nausea and vomiting.

The CDC and the ADA recommend that frequent exposure to small amounts of fluoride every day is the best for reducing the risk of dental cavities for all ages. For most people, this means drinking tap water with optimal fluoride levels and brushing teeth twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste. For children and adults who may be at a higher risk of cavities, fluoride treatments can provide extra benefits.

Dental cavities are the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma. The American Academy of Pediatrics AAP recommend fluoride treatment for all children as soon as their teeth begin to grow to prevent decay, pain, and future dental infections. Fluoride recommendations for adults vary. Different studies have investigated a range of concentrations, doses, and frequencies of treatment.

If a person is at a moderate-to-high risk of developing tooth decay, professional fluoride treatment can help. Professional fluoride treatment is a preventive therapy, which helps your body naturally fight cavities. By preventing tooth decay, you are lowering the amount of money you spend on dental care over your lifetime. The bacteria in our mouths eat carbohydrates to produce acid. The acid weakens the surface of enamel, making it softer and more likely to decay.

This process is demineralization. The minerals in our saliva work to remineralize or harden and strengthen the enamel. The naturally occurring minerals in our saliva are calcium and phosphate. They are constantly working to remineralize enamel. Cavities occur when there is more demineralization than remineralization. Fluoride increases the remineralization process, which prevents cavities from occurring.

Fluoride improves the remineralization process on any tooth surface. People of all ages are prone to cavities, not just children. Anyone with a high risk for cavities should receive professional fluoride treatments regularly. Elderly patients who struggle with oral hygiene benefit from professional fluoride treatments.

Because they are not able to effectively remove plaque from the teeth, elderly patients have an inherently higher risk for cavities. This risk is reduced by applying a professional fluoride treatment to the teeth every three or six months. Patients with special needs who are not able to keep their teeth clean also experience a greater likelihood of cavities. To lower this risk, professional fluoride treatments offer a considerable advantage. Keep reading to learn how. Veneers can give you a gorgeous smile.

With a few tips, your veneers can look great for many years. Read on to learn more. If you avoid common mistakes and cultivate smarter habits, your teeth and gums will thank you.

Read on to learn if you are using the incorrect flossing technique. Straight teeth do so much more than enhance your smile. There are surprising health benefits that go hand in hand with evenly aligned teeth. Are you missing one or more teeth? When should you consider replacing them?

How do you know if dentures are the right teeth replacement option for you? I thought those were just for my kids. What you need to know as a dental consumer is that studies have shown topical fluoride applications performed by a dental professional create a significant benefit for adults who have moderate to high risk for cavities.

There are several circumstances that warrant extra fluoride protection among adults. Many prescription medications reduce saliva flow or otherwise create dry mouth.

A reduction in saliva increases cavity risk. Adults often experience gum recession, which exposes part of the root surface of teeth. These areas are softer than the hard enamel at the top of the tooth, which makes them more susceptible to decay.

In addition, adults often get restorative work such as crowns or bridges.