Let’s Talk about Fluoride!
Nearly all naturally occurring water sources contain
fluoride - a compound that has been proven to prevent, and even reverse, tooth
decay.
Cavities are caused by certain bacteria in the mouth. When a person eats sugar and other refined carbohydrates, these bacteria produce acid that removes minerals from the surface of the tooth. Fluoride helps to re-mineralize tooth surfaces and prevents cavities from continuing to form.
There are many benefits of fluoride for almost every
patient. Here are some of our favorites:
· Fluoride strengthens teeth and
reduces cavities. It is effective
systemically and topically.
· Community water fluoridation
is the single most effective public health measure to prevent cavities, and is
the most efficient to prevent one of the most common childhood diseases - dental decay. (5 times more common than
asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever in 5 - 17 year olds.)
· Simply by drinking tap water,
people can benefit from cavity protection whether they are at home, work or
school. And it’s cheaper than buying
bottled water.
· Dry mouth syndrome, caused by
many medications, decreases the amount of saliva produced and can make an
individual more prone to cavities.
· As people age, manual
dexterity often times does not allow for optimal brushing habits and their
sense of taste craves more sweet, sugary foods, which in turn produces more
cavity-causing bacteria.
· If there is patient history of frequent
cavities, this is a big help!
We offer several types of fluoride treatments. Our preferences are fluoride varnish, applied
after your regular hygiene appointment, MI Paste Plus, a take-home
fluoride product that re-mineralizes teeth or we offer different
prescription-strength fluoride toothpastes.
Ask for them at your next visit!
