The dental and medical community upholds fluoride in high regard. The problem is that some families do not fully agree with this. These families are not entirely convinced that they need fluoride varnish treatment. They even go to the extent of avoiding anything to do with a fluoride varnish treatment. You actually need extra fluoride if you suffer from frequent tooth decay.
You also need fluoride if you have a dry mouth caused by medications or diseases such as gum recession. Receding gums expose your vulnerable tooth roots. If you have these symptoms, using a non-prescription fluoride rinse may not be adequate. If you or any member of your family has these dental issues, you need fluoride treatment.
- Condition Causing Fluoride Enamel Loss in Adults
- Dry mouth
- Extremely Dry Mouth Causes
If you suffer from dry mouth, you will admit it feels uncomfortable. Without you knowing it, you are placing your oral health at risk. You are at risk of having tooth decay and gingivitis. Usually, your saliva does the job of washing your mouth from food particles lodged on it. Saliva neutralizes acids that attack tooth enamel and control the bacteria in your mouth. You also need to drink more water throughout the day. Drinking more water can increase your saliva volume to avoid dry mouth.
- When you suffer from a dry mouth, you will notice these dental issues:
- Bad breath
- Sore throat
- Difficulty in speaking and swallowing
Lack of dental work
Visit the dentist at least twice a year to protect your teeth from potential damage. Early tooth decay detection can prevent decay. It is also cheaper to treat tooth decay in its early stages. The dentist uses X-rays to check on all kinds of dental issues.
Gum disease or receding gums
Just because you have graying hair, this does not exclude you from having cavities. In fact, studies show that the rate of tooth decay for those more than 65 years old outpaces children. Most dental caries in older adults can be found in the neck of the tooth near the gum line.
The nerve found in the teeth’s core has lost its sensitivity with age, so you might not notice pain. Sometimes, the only way to save the tooth is through a root canal procedure. Decay near the edges of tooth filling can be another cause of gum disease.
- Your gums become
- Red
- Swollen
- Bleeds
History of Cavities
There are some stages required for cavities to form. The process starts with the loss of tooth mineral or demineralization. When you eat foods containing carbohydrates, this can get trapped between teeth. Sometimes, even when you brush or floss, you cannot altogether remove this. The precept is this: the more sugar you consume, the more acid forms. The bacteria that produce this acid will leave your tooth vulnerable to decay.
Teeth with Deep Pits or Grooves
The deep groves in premolars or molars have the most bottomless pits or grooves. Sometimes, the incisor and canines (front teeth) can also have pits and fissures. These pits can be deep or shallow. Teeth with deep grooves will catch food particles, sugar, and bacteria. When tooth decay occurs in these groves, this will lead to cavities. This explains why there is a need for something to seal these grooves. Leaving these teeth surfaces exposed will only lead to enamel erosion.
What Does Tooth Enamel Do?
Tooth enamel is the outer layer of your teeth. It is a hard substance that protects your teeth from physical and chemical damage. Tooth enamel is quite challenging and is more complex than bone. It is considered the most complex tissue in the human body. Tooth enamel is your teeth’s first defense against all kinds of chemicals, whether from food or body fluids.
This exposure to all kinds of chemicals makes tooth enamel prone to wear and tear. This is what causes your tooth enamel to erode. You will suffer from tooth stains and tooth sensitivity when there is enamel erosion.
- Once your tooth enamel erodes, you will notice these:
- A twinge of pain in the early stages of enamel erosion
- Tooth sensitivity to
- Taste, such as when eating sweet food
- Texture
- Change in temperature
- Cracks and chips
- Tooth discoloration and stains, such as yellow stains on your teeth
- More dentin is exposed
- Indentations or cups on the surface of the teeth
- Tooth Enamel Restoration Treatment
If you keep an open mind, there are dental products that can restore tooth enamel. Even if enamel does not grow back, it can be remineralized using these special tooth repair kits. Demineralization is not yet a full-blown cavity in the tooth. Fluoride works by covering the demineralized area to keep it remineralized. Dental products like this push calcium and phosphate back into the teeth to harden the enamel.
Fluoride helps by disrupting dental plaque. Remember that dental plaque is responsible for tooth decay and gum disease. In addition to tooth enamel restoration, there are fluoride-free options to keep the teeth polished with the help of prophy or prophylaxis paste. These effective dental products used before the sealant can be flavorless, just in case you don’t like tasting any flavor.
You can also reduce your risk for tooth enamel erosion by minimizing acidic foods to a minimum. Consider using a straw when you cannot avoid drinking carbonated drinks or sugary fruit juice. Using a straw minimizes the drink’s contact with your teeth. You can also consume these with your meals. Another alternative is to chew sugar-free gum. This will encourage your mouth to produce saliva. This will also help your teeth recover from acid attack.
Is A Fluoride Treatment Necessary?
Whether you are an adult or you have children, you need fluoride treatment. More so if you are prone to cavities, especially at the root surfaces of teeth and under crowns. Getting fluoride treatments at least every six months would be a great idea. Fluoride treatment provides more protection than you usually get from toothpaste or rinse. Fluoride has a more concentrated content than these sources. Your dentist will use a gel applied in a mouth tray. Sometimes, your dentist will use a fluoride varnish brush on your tooth surface.
Should My Child Get Fluoride at the Dentist?
If you are asking this question, think about this:: alternative medicine cannot protect your child’s tooth. It is too dangerous and irresponsible for a parent to leave a child with rotten teeth. Homeopathic methods for dental care are simply insufficient as tooth decay protection that fluoride treatment provides your child. Stop placing your child’s long-term dental health at risk. Have you ever wondered why a child who often visits the dentist has stronger teeth than an adult who does not receive the same beneficial treatment?
If your child fears the dentist for whatever reason, it is time to conquer this fear. It could stem from a bad experience or fear of pain. With dental advances, dental care has completely changed over the years. Dentists are more aware of the need to help their patients conquer their anxiety. Even waiting rooms are nicely decorated to make your child feel at ease. Numbing gels before injection is a testament to this dental care upgrade. Children are encouraged to visit their dentist more so in recent years for their own good. They are made to understand that having oral prophylaxis or fluoride treatment does not have to be a traumatic experience.
Fluoride Treatment at the Dentist
Dentist recommends using fluoride varnish treatment (not a rinse) since these treatments strengthen the teeth and protect them from decay. Fluoride helps your tooth enamel fight against plaque and bacteria. These are responsible for causing mildew-forming acids.
If you want to fight early signs of tooth decay or stop it from its track, you need this treatment. In some cases, the use of fluoride may reverse tooth decay. As an adult, you do not have enough fluoride sources and will significantly benefit from these treatments. An extra fluoride treatment will strengthen your teeth and help them fight cavities.
The Bottom Line
Tooth enamel protects your teeth from daily use, like when you use your teeth to chew, bite, crunch, and grind. Even if the enamel of your teeth is complex in time, it can get damaged: chip and crack. Enamel will protect your teeth from a potentially painful change in temperature and the use of everyday chemicals.
As a responsible and loving parent, you want the best for your child. It is important to allow the dentist to care for your child’s dental health. Better yet, ensure the dental health of your entire family. This way, the family that uses fluoride treatment has a great-looking smile and healthy teeth.
