Fluoride is an essential mineral for the strengthening of your teeth. Most cities add fluoride to their city water supply for this reason. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes that water fluoride treatments are among the top ten public health achievements in recent history. However, what if you don’t live in a town or city that has fluoridated water? What if you have your own well and do not add fluoride to the water? In these situations, you should consider performing home fluoride treatments on you and your children. By pairing these with general dentistry services from Lovett Dental Jersey Village, you can keep your teeth healthy.
Types of Home Fluoride Treatments
There are two basic types of fluoride treatments at home. The first one does not require a prescription, and anyone can do it. This is simply to use fluoride toothpaste twice a day. In addition, you can use a mouthwash that also contains fluoride. These two additional steps will provide fluoride to your teeth in between your regular dental visits. With young children, however, you do need to be careful with products that have added fluoride. The American Dental Association does not recommend fluoride toothpaste for children under the age of two. Your child should be six or older to use a mouthwash containing fluoride. When you use fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash at home, do not eat or drink for at least thirty minutes afterward. This gives the fluoride time to absorb into your teeth.
The second type of treatment is a prescription home fluoride treatment. Your dentist can provide you with a prescription for certain fluoride products that you can use at home. If you are at higher risk for developing cavities due to lack of fluoride, your dentist may write you a prescription for one of the following products:
- Prevident: Prevident makes both toothpaste and mouthwash with an increased concentration of fluoride.
- Clinpro 5000 toothpaste: This toothpaste contains a higher concentration of fluoride as well as tri-calcium phosphate. Tri-calcium phosphate is another mineral that helps strengthen your enamel. It can also reverse white spots.
- MI PastePlus: This is a paste that you rub on your teeth twice a day. It is not toothpaste. If your dentist prescribes this paste, he or she will recommend that you continue your daily habits of brushing and flossing with your regular products.
Your dentist will instruct you on the proper use of these supplements.
Who Needs Fluoride?
As soon as your baby’s first tooth erupts, he or she should be adding fluoride to their daily habits. However, a child under the age of two should not use products that contain fluoride. Instead, they should take an oral supplement. These come in liquid form or as a chewable tablet. Your dentist can prescribe the correct type of fluoride for your child’s situation.
Every person of every age needs fluoride for remineralizing their teeth. Your teeth constantly go through cycles of demineralizing and remineralizing. When they are in the cycle of remineralizing, they need that fluoride to strengthen the enamel and prevent cavities. Some estimate that since cities started adding fluoride to their water supplies, the amount of cavities found in children has plummeted three hundred percent. Even in adults, studies have shown that regular use of fluoride can help prevent tooth decay.
Remember, fluoride is a supplement, not an all-in-one solution. You must continue your daily oral habits to prevent tooth decay. Regular visits to the dentist help ensure you are on the right track. Avoiding sugary foods and acidic drinks will also help your teeth stay strong.
Receive Professional Fluoride Treatments at Lovett Dental Jersey Village
Any home fluoride treatments that you decide to do should not replace your regular visits to the dentist. You should continue to receive professional fluoride treatments at least once a year. Your dentist may recommend it more often if you are at risk. Using fluoride treatments at home is simply a way to keep up on your oral health in between your regularly scheduled dental visits.
If you realize it’s been a while since your last professional fluoride treatment, contact Lovett Dental Jersey Village at 281-890-5002. We will be happy to get you on the schedule to keep those pearly whites shining.
