What Is Fluoride and Why Is It so Useful for Teeth?
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally, and it can be found in certain foods, in particular fish, eggs and meat, and it sometimes occurs naturally in water. Fluoride is also found in tea. It has been proven to be very effective in helping to harden tooth enamel, lessening the risk of cavities.
Your tooth enamel consists of lots of tightly packed mineral crystals, and dental enamel loses and regains some of these minerals every day through a process called demineralisation and remineralisation. This occurs every time you eat something, as the mouth becomes more acidic due to the presence of plaque bacteria. This has the effect of softening the tooth enamel so some of the crystals are leached out during demineralisation. As the mouth becomes less acidic some of the crystals are redeposited back into the tooth enamel during remineralisation If you have adequate fluoride then it helps to disrupt the production of acids, and speeds up tooth remineralisation.
Who Can Benefit from Fluoride Treatment?
Most people will use fluoride toothpaste, but Blue House Dental offers additional fluoride treatments to help boost this effect. These can be very useful for people more at risk of developing cavities. This can include anyone who has a history of tooth decay or who hasn’t visited a dentist very frequently in the past. It may also be applicable to someone with less-than-perfect oral hygiene, and lifestyle choices can also make a difference. For example someone who snacks frequently is more at risk of developing cavities. This is due to the teeth being exposed to the acid produced by plaque bacteria for longer periods of time. Some people have a condition called dry mouth where insufficient saliva is produced to help wash away bacteria, and they may benefit from fluoride treatments to help protect their teeth.
Fluoride treatments can be in the form of a concentrated mouthwash, or a gel or foam that is applied to the teeth in a mouth tray. If necessary, we can also prescribe fluoride supplements.
To book a Fluoride Treatment, contact us at
45 Grace Avenue Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 (02) 9451 0800
