Odds are that you’re at least a little bit familiar with fluoride. You might have an idea that it’s good for teeth, and that it therefore is placed into everything from toothpaste to drinking water. If you’ve been to the dentist for a checkup recently, you might also know that fluoride treatment is often offered as a follow-up to a regular cleaning.
However, unless you’re a dentist, you likely don’t know the details about why fluoride is so important or what fluoride treatment could do for you. If you’re curious, here’s some information about it you might find enlightening.
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a key nutrient necessary for bodily health, like iron or niacin. However, unlike other nutrients, its primary function is purely dental in nature.
Fluoride is a key component of enamel, the substance that makes up the hard exterior of the teeth. When applied to the teeth it can be used to remineralize the enamel, toughening it up.
Why is Fluoride Important?
Enamel is a finite resource; your body can’t naturally produce more of it once your teeth are fully developed, which means that once it’s been eroded from your tooth it’s gone forever. Fluoride hardens the enamel, making it resistant to decay and damage. It’s therefore critical to ensuring the long-term integrity of the teeth.
How Do I Get Enough Fluoride?
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t have to struggle to get enough fluoride. While difficult to obtain through the diet, it’s added to most toothpaste and is incorporated into a majority of public tap waters. So long as you brush regularly with a fluoride toothpaste, your teeth should have plenty of it.
However, if you’re lax with your dental hygiene, are unusually susceptible to tooth decay, or if you’re just interested in protecting your teeth to a greater extent, you might also want to ask your dentist about fluoride treatment. This involves placing an easily absorbed fluoride solution onto the teeth, affording you stronger enamel than you may have otherwise.
Now that you know more about what this vital nutrient can do for the teeth, you might have a greater appreciation for these treatments and what they could potentially do for your oral health.
About Our Practice
At Smile by Design of Virginia Beach, you’ll find something that you might not get from other dental practices: a team of professionals who will actually listen. Dentistry is best when it’s customized to the needs of the patient, which is why we will take the time to understand your unique needs and customize the treatment that we provide to your unique needs.
If you have any questions about fluoride treatment, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (757) 499-9639.