Fluoride is a natural mineral. We need some fluoride to support strong teeth enamel and quality oral health. People who are more susceptible to cavities find fluoride especially helpful. Fluoride is in municipal water supplies and most kinds of toothpaste. Brushing your teeth and drinking the water from your tap will both deliver a helpful amount of fluoride.
Dentists recommend getting fluoride treatment for even more protection during a routine dental visit. Fluoride treatment often comes as a varnish applied to the teeth at the end of a dental exam. You will be reminded not to eat or drink for about 30 minutes after applying fluoride treatment. Fluoride treatments are one of the easiest ways to protect oral health.
Call Dental Designs of Maryland – White Marsh, MD at 410.834.4284 to learn more about dental services in White Marsh, MD.
Fluoride Treatment Overview
Getting a fluoride treatment is incredibly convenient. You can visit your dentist to get a fluoride treatment. However, it can also be lumped in with a routine dental visit. After cleaning your teeth, the dentist will apply a fluoride treatment to your teeth right before leaving. The process takes just a few minutes.
Fluoride treatment for adults is usually not covered by insurance. Nonetheless, it is an affordable form of oral healthcare—an individual fluoride treatment costs between $10 and $30 for adults. Most fluoride treatment for kids is covered by insurance since it is a crucial piece of preventative healthcare as children’s teeth develop.
For people most at-risk of cavities, dentists sometimes recommend at-home fluoride treatments in between the in-office treatments. These often come in the form of special mouthwashes or gel applied to the teeth. A few factors that increase a person’s risk for cavities include:
- Excessive drinking or drug use
- Neglected brushing or flossing
- Unhealthy diet, particularly one high in processed or sugary foods
- Dry mouth
- Lack of professional dental care
Fluoride treatment can significantly reduce your risk of cavities, especially if you are at an increased risk. The treatments are affordable and convenient and can be done in just a few minutes. If you want a fluoride treatment, talk to your dentist about whether it is right for you.
Benefits of Fluoride
The benefits of fluoride treatment for kids and adults are clear. First, it is a fantastic way to protect tooth enamel and prevent cavities. Fluoride will not eliminate any decay that is already present. Yet it is one of the best ways to prevent future tooth decay. This benefit is significant in young children. Getting fluoride starting from a young age is one of the best ways to help children avoid cavities as they grow up.
Other benefits of fluoride include its convenience and its affordability. More likely than not, you are using fluoridated toothpaste at home and may not even know it. Using fluoridated toothpaste while brushing daily twice is an excellent method of preventing cavities. Beyond just what you’re doing at home, though, getting fluoride treatment during your dental visit is equally convenient. It will only add a few minutes and a few dollars to your dental check-up. In exchange, your teeth will receive the minerals that protect their enamel coating.
Explore Our Fluoride Treatment Services at Dental Designs of Maryland – White Marsh, MD
Make fluoride treatment a key part of your oral hygiene routine. It is inexpensive, convenient, and proven to protect teeth from cavities. At the same time, do not fall into the trap of thinking that getting fluoride treatment means you can ignore the rest of what you should be doing to care for your oral health. Fluoride treatment should come in addition to these healthy practices: brushing twice per day, flossing daily, avoiding high-sugar foods and beverages, not smoking, and visiting your dentist at least once per year.
Find out more about fluoride treatment services in White Marsh, MD, by contacting 410.834.4284.