Things You Should Know Before Getting Fluoride Treatment
Aug 05, 2021
Do you ever worry that you are not doing enough to preserve good oral health? It may be that you do a lot, but you are not doing enough. The reason is that some preventive dental procedures and treatments are vital for excellence in dental health. One such practice is fluoride treatment, which has proven very crucial in sustaining strong teeth for many patients over the years.
What Is Fluoride Treatment?
It is a dental procedure that involves enriching teeth with fluoride, a natural mineral that strengthens and preserves healthy teeth. Ideally, fluoride can be found in the everyday foods we eat, for example, fluoridated water, foods cooked in water, fish eaten with bones, to mention a few. While those sources are still relevant in providing the required minerals for the health of your body and teeth, they may not be sufficient. For better absorption of this mineral by your teeth’ enamels, you need fluoride treatment.
Fact You Should Know Before Your Fluoride Treatment
Before getting any dental work done, you need to learn as much as possible about the procedure and what it will entail. The purpose of this is to give you a clear understanding of what to expect, allowing you to prepare amply thereof.
- The treatment does not cure dental decay – you cannot rely on fluoride treatment in Houston, TX, as your treatment option for decayed teeth. The treatment is used in preventive dentistry as a means to protect teeth from the high risk of getting dental cavities. Therefore, if your teeth are already decayed, you may not benefit from this kind of treatment.
- Too much fluoride is bad for your teeth – like with every good thing, too much of it can be bad for you. The same applies to fluoride treatment in Houston. The fluoride varnish must be applied in moderation to ensure it is safe for you. This is why dental experts stress the importance of only getting fluoride treatment in TX, done by a dental expert.
- Consistency is paramount – getting the fluoride treatment in 77070 one time in your life will not guard your teeth against dental cavities for the rest of your life afterward. Instead, you have to be consistent about getting the treatment periodically, every 3 to 6 months, you should visit your dentist to determine the next fluoride treatment.
- You may still get dental cavities after the treatment – fluoride treatment near you does not make you immune to tooth infections. The purpose of the treatment is to reduce the chances of getting cavities, not get rid of the odds altogether. If you do not practice good oral hygiene and remain proactive in caring for your teeth, eventually, you will get dental caries regardless of your previous fluoride treatment. It implies that the treatment should not substitute other vital dental practices like brushing and flossing teeth.
- Fluoride treatment is common and most effective for children – pediatric dentists are mostly the ones administering the treatment to children. The reason is that kids are more prone to dental cavities when they are younger than when they become adults. Besides, it is children who have the most challenge in keeping up with proper oral habits, not adults. However, fluoride is a mineral needed by your teeth, whether as a child or an adult. It is why the treatment is also administered to adults.
- Fluoride can reverse the early stages of tooth cavities – it is made possible by killing any bacteria that corrode the enamel of your teeth to cause dental cavities. However, this is only possible if you consider fluoride treatment early on before too much damage is incurred on your tooth.
Should You Get Fluoride Treatment?
You do not need much convincing to understand that preventive dental care is much better than having to seek treatments later on for dental problems. If you are among the people that have poor eating choices, then the sugars from the foods you eat will put you at a very high risk of getting dental cavities. As such, consider fluoride treatment as a proactive measure to keep your teeth healthy and strong for a long time, without the threat of dental cavities or tooth decay.