How Fluoride Helps Your Smile

At the end of you or your child’s regular checkup and cleaning, after your dentist has examined your smile and your hygienist has cleaned and polished your pearly whites, you may be faced with the age-old question: would you like fluoride treatment today? This incredible add-on has become a staple in the oral health world because of its amazing ability to strengthen the teeth and rebuild enamel in just minutes. But what is it, and how does it deliver such remarkable results? Here’s a closer look at everything you’ve ever wondered about fluoride treatment from your dentist!

What is Fluoride?

Chances are, you’ve heard about fluoride before. After all, this mighty mineral is a common ingredient in many oral health products like toothpaste and mouthwash. But did you know it can also be found all around you in nature and in many of the foods you already eat, such as coffee, black tea, potatoes, spinach, and even seafood like shrimp, lobster, and crab?

It’s also released from soil and rocks and can be found in most freshwater sources like rivers, lakes and groundwater, and 25 countries across the globe including the United States add it to public water supplies to strengthen the smiles of a staggering 400 million people!

How Does Fluoride Help My Smile?

Not only does fluoride appear in nature, but it also naturally occurs in your teeth, too. It serves the important function of strengthening the teeth against plaque acid and reducing your risk of cavities and decay.  Following your regular checkup and cleaning, you or your child’s dentist may even offer a fluoride treatment applied directly to the teeth in the form of a gel, foam, or varnish that in less than an hour can strengthen the enamel and help reduce cavities by up to 43 percent!

How Safe is Fluoride?

You may have heard rumors online or even news stories that question the safety of adding fluoride to your community’s water. The truth is, hundreds of studies have been conducted on the safety of this magnificent mineral, and the only real risk it poses is a condition called fluorosis (which may cause white spots on the teeth or skeletal damage following long-term exposure to excess fluoride from accidental water contamination after disasters such as fires or explosions) only occurs at double the levels added to public water supplies. Here in the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services has determined that a concentration of 0.7 milligrams of fluoride to each liter of water, (essentially three drops of water to a 55-gallon barrel) is safe for regular consumption, while the World Health Organization has found the maximum safe concentration to be 1.5ppm.

Remember, fluoride is a safe, effective, naturally occurring mineral that can rebuild tooth enamel and reduce cavities by over 40 percent. So, the next time you or your child’s dentist asks, “do you want fluoride today,” you can answer yes with confidence and enjoy all the amazing benefits of stronger, healthier teeth!

About Our Practice

At Bear Creek Family Dentistry, our team of dentists wants to help keep you and your family’s teeth healthy and strong. That’s why we’re pleased to offer safe, effective fluoride treatment at the end of every checkup and cleaning. If you’d like to boost the strength of your enamel and reduce your risk of cavities by up to 43%, talk to your dentist about adding a fluoride treatment to your appointment today. To schedule your next exam and cleaning, visit our website or call 888-676-2327 to find the location nearest to you!