July 1, 2020

Fluoride is well-known to be effective in preventing the formation of cavities that lead to tooth decay. But before undergoing a fluoride treatment, it's best to consult with your dentist in Morton, IL first.

Fluoride is an essential aspect of dental care. Our teeth's enamel will shed layers due to exposure to acidic foods and minerals like fluoride, calcium, and magnesium. The adding and shedding processes are called remineralization and demineralization.  

If you want to know more about fluoride treatments, we've got you covered. We'll tackle everything there is to know about fluoride treatments, including the benefits and costs.

What Is a Fluoride Treatment?

Fluoride treatments are professional treatments that usually work by applying high concentrations of fluoride to the teeth to reduce the production of cavities and promote good oral health.  

These are not over-the-counter treatments and can only be performed in dental clinics by dentists or hygienists. Treatments may come in different forms, such as gels, foams, solutions, and varnishes.

How It Works

Depending on what's available in your dental clinic, fluoride treatments may be applied using a brush, swab, or mouthwash. While you can get fluoride treatments at home by using fluoride toothpaste or gargling tap water, these in-office treatments contain more fluoride.

This is a relatively fast treatment that only takes up to a few minutes. But you will need to abstain from eating food or drinking beverages for about 30 minutes to allow the treatment to be fully absorbed by your teeth.

The Benefits of Fluoride Treatment

As mentioned previously, the main advantage of getting fluoride treatments includes strengthening the teeth's weaker enamel by replenishing the minerals lost from eating food and drinking beverages with high acidity levels.

For patients with dry mouth, weak crowns, and enamel, fluoride varnishes act as an additional layer of protection for the teeth.

How Much Does It Cost?

Fluoride treatments are typically inexpensive since they are usually part of your annual teeth cleaning and exam. Some insurance companies actually cover fluoride treatments since they consider this a preventive maintenance procedure.

However, if you aren’t covered, this preventative treatment is still inexpensive.

How Much Fluoride Is Safe?

For fluoride treatments used in dental practice, the optimal fluoride content per session should be 0.7 ppm. Any concentrations that go beyond 4.0 ppm are considered hazardous to the body and may cause fluorosis.

For that reason, the American Dental Association has strongly recommended that fluoride treatments should not be started for young children.

Exposure to high concentrations of fluoride while children are still developing their teeth can cause mild fluorosis. So, it's best to avoid this. Also, it is not advisable to let children under the age of 6 use mouthwash since they might swallow it instead of spitting it out.

Looking for a Reliable Dentist in Morton, IL?

If you're looking to get fluoride treatments to have stronger teeth, pay a visit to your dentist in Morten, IL. Morton Dental Center offers the best dental treatments to help you get the best care for your teeth. Call us today!

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