Preventive Dentistry: Fluoride Treatment

Some people often think that they don’t need to see the dentist until they have a dental problem. Well, this isn’t true. Preventive dentistry is a department in dentistry that deals with preventing different dental problems with various dental procedures. When you visit the dentist for preventive dental care, the dentist would of dental sealants, fluoride treatments, regular dental checkups, and dental cleaning, and many others. However, in this article, we would be looking further into fluoride treatment as a preventive dental treatment.

Fluoride treatment is an oral treatment that involves the use of highly concentrated fluoride medication for the prevention of tooth decay. When we say ”highly concentrated”, it means that the fluoride treatment you receive from the dentist is of a  different concentration from the fluoride which we get from natural sources like water and foods. The kind of fluoride medications or solutions that we get from the dentist or over-the-counter are called topical fluoride. The fluoride that we absorb or consume through fluoridated water or foods with fluoride is called systematic fluoride. They are not as highly concentrated as topical fluoride since people consume or swallow them.

Too much use or intake of both topical or systematic fluoride can lead to dangerous situations. This is why getting fluoride treatment from an authorized dentist is the best thing to do. Even if you are going to apply highly concentrated fluoride at home by yourself, you will require the supervision and guidance of your dentist to avoid hazardous incidents. Children can also get fluoride treatments. Preventive dental care is very important for children as well. You can take your child to see a pediatric dentist at Roanoke for fluoride treatment. If your child experiences side effects after the fluoride treatment, you can also take your child to see an emergency paediatric dentist in Roanoke.

Why Do People Develop Teeth Cavities?

Just as the body gets dirty, the teeth get dirty too.  The basic way to keep the teeth clean is by brushing the teeth regularly. However, we can do better when it comes to taking proper care of our teeth.

So why then do we develop cavities?

1. Bad Dental Hygiene: As recommended by dentists, we should brush our teeth at least twice daily and floss once every day. When we don’t brush our teeth regularly and properly, the food particles that are inside our teeth holes and other sides of the teeth structure would begin to form plaques and tartars. When plaques begin to accumulate inside the teeth, there is a higher chance of teeth decay or infections.
2. Unhealthy Foods: This isn’t surprising. The food we eat first comes in direct contact with our dental structure before going into the body.  Sugary and sticky foods are the teeth’ worse enemies. One of the best ways to avoid developing cavities after eating these foods is to brush properly immediately after eating them. Also, you can always visit the dentist at 24018 for dental cleanings to keep you safe from caries or decay.
3. Use of orthodontic procedures with bad dental care: People who use orthodontic treatments like braces are often advised by their dentist to brush and floss their teeth properly and regularly. This is because the part of the teeth where the braces are placed needs to be cared for as well to get rid of food particles that might be stuck there. Of course, food particles can get stuck inside the braces holes and this can also lead to teeth cavities if care is not taken.
4. Damaged Teeth: People who have a crack on their teeth are exposed to teeth infections. When the enamel that protects the inner teeth structure is cracked or broken, it becomes easy for infections to penetrate the teeth’ roots. If you have a cracked tooth, see your dentist for restorative dental treatments that can be used to fill up the cracked area.
5. Damaged Dental Fillings: A dental filling treatment is important in preventing teeth cavities. However, when the filling gets damaged, you can be at risk of developing cavities. Once you observe dental filling damage, you should see an emergency dentist for dental care. You can always get another dental filling.

How Do Dentists Perform Fluoride Treatment?

Before getting a fluoride treatment, you should book an appointment with a qualified dentist. Also, it might interest you to know that the fluoride treatment that you would get from the dentist is the safest and most effective. You can get your fluoride treatment in Roanoke. The dentist would ask about your health history to be sure about your health status and make sure there are no health conditions that might cause complications.

After your health status has been confirmed to be appropriate for fluoride treatment, the dentist would begin the process. The dentist would apply the fluoride medication with a brush or cotton swab. Note that fluoride can be in form of varnish, gel, or foam.  The dentist would allow your teeth to absorb the fluoride medication for few minutes. To complete the treatment, the dentist would advise that you do not wash your mouth, eat or drink for 30 minutes. Fluoride treatments can last for 6 months or 12 months depending on your medical state.