Fluoride is always being discussed when it comes to dental health, but what does it do for your teeth? If you’ve ever wondered whether fluoride actually prevents cavities, you’re not alone. Many are aware that fluoride is good for their teeth, but how and why it works so effectively may make you more informed to make choices for your oral care.

Let us break it down and understand why fluoride is such a crucial substance in cavity prevention.

What Is Fluoride and How Does It Work?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that most foods contain, drinking water, and even in the crust of the earth. It is most famously known for its ability to harden teeth and bones. Fluoride prevents cavities by remineralizing enamel—your teeth’s hard outer layer.

Whenever your teeth come into contact with food or beverage acids, such as sweet or sour beverages, enamel will begin to wear away. Fluoride halts this process by fortifying enamel through the remineralization process, repairing it before cavities form.

Fluoride Treatment: Your Cavity Preventer

Fluoride treatment is a quick and efficient dental therapy that is performed directly on your teeth during regular dental visits. Fluoride treatment is a highly concentrated fluoride gel or varnish that coats the teeth, letting them sit as fluoride penetrates deep into the enamel. By doing this, fluoride prevents tooth cavities, which is most necessary for people who are at high risk of contracting tooth decay.

This treatment is also beneficial to children with developing teeth because it provides additional protection against cavities. But it is not limited to them. Fluoride can prove to be a great help to adults who also suffer from dry mouth, a history of cavities, or orthodontia, which makes it harder to keep teeth clean.

Fluoride Treatment Benefits

• Strengthens Enamel – Fluoride makes tooth enamel stronger and more resistant to decay.
• Reverses Early Tooth Decay – Fluoride reverses the early signs of tooth decay by remineralizing the areas of enamel that have begun to deteriorate.
• Prevents Future Cavities – Regular application of fluoride prevents cavities from forming by strengthening the enamel and making it more resistant to plaque and harmful bacteria.
• Ideal for Sensitive Teeth – Fluoride can protect sensitive teeth against hot, cold, and sweet foods since it strengthens the enamel, making them less sensitive to pain.

Fluoride in Your Water and Food

While fluoride treatments are potent, you also get some fluoride naturally by consuming drinking water and foods like black tea, sardines, salmon, grapes, raisins, and green tea. This mineral is put into many communities’ water supply, which has proven to reduce cavities by a great amount.

How Much Fluoride Is Too Much?

As with everything, fluoride must be consumed in moderation. With too little fluoride, one will not have sufficient protection from cavities. Too much fluoride will result in a condition called dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis will discolor or streak the teeth in children who are developing their teeth. 

Recommended Use of Fluoride

• For Children: Fluoride toothpaste is fine for children two and older, but be sure to supervise them while they brush so they do not swallow too much. Give them fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice or a pea-sized amount.
• For Adults: Your fluoride toothpaste must contain at least 1,350 ppm of fluoride to keep your teeth strong and cavity-free.

Why Should You Care About Fluoride?

Now that you’ve learned how fluoride helps prevent cavities, it’s no surprise that putting it into your oral health care plan is a good choice. Not only is fluoride an easy solution to reducing your chances of getting cavities, but it also makes your teeth stronger and healthier in the long term. Getting regular fluoride treatments can dramatically reduce your risk of getting tooth decay, especially if you’re at higher risk.

If you’re unsure whether fluoride treatment is right for you, consider talking to a dentist. They can help assess your oral health and recommend a tailored treatment plan to keep your smile intact.

Schedule an appointment today with our friendly staff at Pinole Aesthetic Dentistry to keep your smile healthy and bright.