Many popular oral health products like toothpaste and mouthwash contain fluoride. This helpful mineral is also often added to public water supplies because of its positive influence on oral health. Dr. Patrick Ousborne and Dr. Rikki Esterson of Dental Excellence of Towson, MD are dentists who understand that the maintenance and care of your smile is an important part of your overall healthcare and well-being. Learn more about how fluoride can strengthen your tooth enamel and how you can benefit from the effects of fluoride products and treatments.
What Does Fluoride Do?
Fluoride has chemical properties that allow it to build up and strengthen tooth enamel. The enamel is the hard outer layer of your tooth that protects the sensitive tissues inside and allows you to use it for chewing. Cavities can develop when enamel is weakened by tooth decay. Fluoride is often sometimes called “nature’s cavity fighter” because of its amazing ability to strengthen teeth and restore already weakened enamel.
How Does Fluoride Work?
Found naturally in all water sources, fluoride is a mineral that our bodies cannot make themselves. We can only take in fluoride from outside sources such as drinking water or topical fluoride sources like toothpaste, mouthwash or fluoride treatments.
When the body absorbs fluoride, it is used by the tooth enamel to help replace calcium and phosphorus that make the enamel hard, restoring the weakened enamel. Minerals present during this process, called remineralization, need fluoride in the mix to allow the enamel to absorb them to rebuild itself..
Why Kids May Need Fluoride Treatments
In children, fluoride works beneath the gum line before teeth have even begun to emerge to ensure they develop properly. As children are still learning good oral hygiene, their dentist may recommend a topical fluoride treatment such as an at-home gel or an in-office fluoride varnish to ensure that they are get the maximum benefits of fluoride.
Keep Enamel Strong At All Ages
But fluoride isn’t just for kids. Adults need fluoride, too. Many municipalities have fluoride added to their water supplies for the health of their community. Furthermore, most toothpaste and mouthwash have added fluoride. Combining topical treatments with consuming fluoride keeps teeth strong and helps you save on dental costs over the years.
Preserving Your Healthy Smile in Towson, MD
Don’t forget to schedule your regular dental exams and maintain good oral hygiene to help preserve the healthy enamel you have. Fluoride treatments are just one of the many ways you can keep your teeth healthy for the rest of your life. Dental Excellence in Towson, MD is focused on helping you have a healthy, comfortable smile that provides the best possible quality of life. Schedule your comprehensive dental examination online or call our offices at (410) 514-6553 to ensure the health and well-being of your smile.