Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride treatment is an essential procedure in maintaining a healthy oral health status. This treatment uses a fluoride varnish (5% sodium fluoride) to protect the teeth against tooth decay by lowering the cavity-causing oral bacteria levels, or acid produced by bacteria and sugars while also strengthening the teeth.
With a fluoride treatment, the varnish is topically applied, which means that it can also be used on babies from the time that they have their first tooth at around 6 months of age. This treatment is safe, quick, and reduces the incidence of cavities by 30-35%!
Daily fluoride treatment can be done at home in the form of toothpastes or mouth rinses. However, these toothpastes and mouthwashes only have a small amount of fluoride. A higher concentration of fluoride is always applied professionally at a dental clinic in the form of gels or varnish.
Advantage of Having a Regular Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is essential in proper dental and oral care. This treatment makes the teeth healthier, stronger, and more resistant to dental cavities. Fluoride treatments also help reduce teeth sensitivity, and can reverse early dental cavity formation.
What You Should Know About Fluoride Treatments
A fluoride treatment is a quick and painless dental procedure wherein a fluoride varnish is painted or brushed on all the surfaces of each tooth using a small brush. This fluoride varnish is sticky and hardens once it comes in contact with saliva.
Typically, fluoride treatment is done every 3 to 4 months, especially for kids. However, this schedule may change depending on the needs of the patient.
When it comes to the post-treatment care after getting a fluoride treatment, there are only a few things to keep in mind. These include the following:
- Do not rinse, eat, or drink for at least 30 minutes after fluoride application
- Avoid sticky, hard and/or crunchy food and hot beverages for at least 6 hours
- Do not brush or floss teeth for at least 6 to 8 hours
- If possible, wait until the next morning to resume normal oral hygiene. Any residual fluoride varnish may be removed with thorough brushing and flossing.
In conclusion, fluoride treatment is an essential component of maintaining a healthy smile and preventing tooth decay. By providing enhanced protection and strengthening the teeth, fluoride treatment is a valuable preventive measure for patients of all ages.
