Fluoride is sometimes thought of as a controversial ingredient, but dentists, know that safe amounts of this mineral play a key role in cavity prevention that leads to healthy smiles. Your family dentist may recommend that you or your child receive brief topical fluoride treatments to strengthen tooth enamel and keep you smiling for a lifetime to come. Keep reading to learn more about fluoride and what to expect if it is recommended for you or your little one.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that is found in a number of sources, including some food items, naturally in some springs and wells, and also most local community water sources. Fluoride has long been recognized for its role in remineralizing the tooth enamel when applied topically, helping to prevent the formation of weak spots that eventually turn into cavities. That is why fluoride is an important ingredient in toothpaste — in fact, the American Dental Association (ADA) will not add its seal of approval to toothpastes that do not contain the mineral.
Multiple Benefits of Fluoride
The benefits of fluoride for teeth are many. They include the following:
- It has been proven to protect against tooth decay
- Topical treatments can be applied quickly and painlessly at the end of a checkup and cleaning
- Offers cavity prevention for patients of all ages, even cavity-prone adults
- Provides an extra boost of protection for kids whose dental hygiene skills may not be fully developed yet
Should You Get Fluoride?
Dentists recommend quick fluoride treatments for patients who are at-risk of developing tooth decay. That most often means kids, as they are highly vulnerable to cavities while their teeth are still developing between the ages of 6 and 14. But cavity-prone adults can benefit from fluoride as well. If you have had at least one cavity per year in the recent past, you may want to consider getting this topical treatment for yourself.
Don’t put off talking to your dentist about fluoride — it may be just the ingredient that keeps your family’s smiles safe for the long-haul!
Meet the Dentist
Dr. L. Blaine Kennington is a general dentist with decades of experience in providing dental care for patients of all ages. A 1984 graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill, Dr. Kennington continues to provide excellent dentistry services for families in Castle Rock. To learn more about fluoride or to book a checkup and cleaning, contact the office by phone: (360) 274-9100.