Look Forward to Your Dental Visit!
Personalized care for you and your smile.
As a parent, caring for the health and wellbeing of your child’s smile is one of your most important responsibilities. After all, your child’s oral health will play a role in how they look, feel, and their overall health throughout their lifetime. Because of this, it’s a good idea to take steps to protect their teeth whenever possible. One way to accomplish this is receiving professional fluoride treatments at the dentist. Here’s what you should know about how fluoride treatments could benefit your child (or any person in your family) before scheduling your next dental appointment at Trail West Family Dentistry.
Fluoride Treatments for Children and Adults
Fluoride is a natural mineral that can be found in water and many foods. It plays an important role in helping the enamel of one’s teeth resist damage from bacteria and acidic foods. Every day, minerals are lost from the enamel of your child’s teeth through a process called demineralization, which is caused when plaque and acid attack it. When water and foods containing fluoride are consumed, minerals are returned to the enamel through a process called remineralization.
Fluoride treatments performed at the dentist can provide additional protection to the cracks and crevices of back teeth where tooth decay is more likely to occur. While fluoride treatments applied to teeth are particularly useful for young children who have not yet mastered good oral hygiene habits or adults with disabilities, fluoride treatments can benefit any individual. As well as protecting from cavities, fluoride varnish is found to prevent generalized tooth sensitivity in children and adults.
Fluoride Treatment Process
Fluoride gel treatments are fast, non-invasive, and completely painless. They can often be performed during a bi-annual exam to prevent cavities between cleanings. Fluoride can be applied in a variety of ways, including gel, foam, or varnish.
Here’s what you can expect during you or your child’s fluoride treatment at Trail West Family Dentistry:
- Dr. Gould will gently apply the fluoride solution to the surface of your child’s back teeth.
- It will be left there for a few minutes to let the porous enamel soak it in.
- After the treatment is complete on all of their molars, be sure to avoid hot drinks or any products containing alcohol for 30 minutes.
Are Fluoride Treatments at the Dentist Safe?
Fluoride has been used on patients of all ages for decades with no negative side effects or long-term health problems. For this reason, it’s considered very safe for most people, including young children.
Who Should Get Fluoride Treatments for Their Teeth?
Any person who is at risk of developing tooth decay could benefit from a fluoride treatment. Some lifestyle factors that could make them more likely of developing tooth decay and therefore benefit from a fluoride treatment include:
- Current cavities
- Poor dental habits
- Poor dietary choices
- Drug abuse
- Dry mouth
- Lack of professional dental care
- Existing fillings
Fluoride Treatment Cost
Most dental insurance plans will cover preventative dental treatments, such as fluoride treatments. For information on what your particular dental insurance plan includes, please contact our office.
Fluoride Treatment at the Dentist
If you’re interested in protecting your teeth or your child’s teeth from tooth decay and other dental concerns Dr. Gould and the experienced team at Trail West Family Dentistry are here to help. With professional fluoride treatments, your entire family can keep their teeth healthy and strong for years to come.
If it’s been a while since you or your child have had a dental exam and professional cleaning, there’s no better time than now to prioritize your family’s oral health. Caring for your smile today can lead to a healthier, happier life tomorrow. Give us a call today to schedule you or your child’s routine dental check-up, cleaning, and fluoride treatment. We can’t wait to see your whole family smile bright!