FLUORIDE & DENTAL CARE

Beautiful Teeth Can Make a Huge Impact on Your Overall Appearance - Simple Secrets to Help Maintain Healthy Teeth So You Look and Feel Your Best

Learn the importance of using fluoride and how it can dramatically improve the condition of your teeth

(Part 1)

What is fluoride?

Fluoride is a mineral that is found in many foods and water. It develops naturally from the elements created by nature. Every day, natural resources known as minerals are added to or disappear from a person's tooth enamel by two common ways.

These two common ways are:

Demineralization: This is when minerals are lost from a tooth's enamel when acids are formed from the development of plaque in our mouth. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the concept of plaque. Plaque is bacteria and sugars that reside in the mouth. These plaques and sugars attack the enamel in our mouth and usually cause Cavities. Something we all would like to avoid if possible.

Remineralization: Minerals such as fluoride, calcium, and phosphate are collected and go back to the enamel layer of the tooth from the foods and waters that are consumed by our bodies. If we leave too many natural minerals from our mouth causing plaque and sugar to develop and we and we do not obtain enough of fluoride, calcium, and phosphate on the tooth's enamel layer causing cavities to develop in your mouth.

What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay in the tooth becomes ruined, rotted, or possibly destroyed. Tooth decay can affect both the inner or outer part of the tooth. Tooth decay usually begins to develop when foods containing sugars and starches (ex. breads, cereals, milk, soda, fruits, cakes, or candy) are left on the teeth caused by not brushing or flossing properly.

Out natural bacteria that live in our mouths will absorb these foods and turn them into acids. The bacteria, acid, food debris, and saliva will combine as one and form a substance called plaque. The plaque will stick on to the teeth and eventually cause holes in the teeth. These holes are caused cavities.

What are the benefits to Fluoride?

• Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth by fighting and preventing plaque and sugars to reside on the tooth's enamel
• Fluoride has the capabilities to stop early decay.
• Fluoride also helps speed up the remineralization process
• Fluoride stops the production of acid in your mouth.

How can you increase your fluoride usage, so you can help prevent cavities from occurring?

Toothpastes and Mouthwashes: Fluoride is found in many of the foods we consume and in the water, we drink. A great way to increase your fluoride intake is To purchase toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain fluoride. By purchasing toothpaste and mouthwashes with fluoride, you are sending extra fluoride to your teeth, so you can prevent cavities or tooth decay. You can get these over the counter in a food store or pharmacy and there are special toothpastes and mouthwashes you can purchase by obtaining a prescription by your dentist and going to your local pharmacy to receive it. Prescription mouthwashes and toothpastes are better because they contain higher levels of fluoride.

Check back in tomorrow for the second half of the blog where you will learn the how certain dental procedures can prevent tooth decay and cavities from occurring.

FLUORIDE & DENTAL CARE 2

Beautiful Teeth Can Make a Huge Impact on Your Overall Appearance - Simple Secrets to Help Maintain Healthy Teeth So You Look and Feel Your Best

Learn the importance of using fluoride and how it can dramatically improve the condition of your teeth

Part 2

This is the second part of our article "Learning the importance of using fluoride and how it can dramatically improve the condition of your teeth". Be sure to read part 1 of the article first.

Getting Fluoride in your dentist office

A dentist can put fluoride on to your teeth using a gel, foam, or varnish. These are treatments can be administered by your dentist during your appointment. The advantage of getting a gel, foam, or varnish from your dentist is that they have higher levels of fluoride. These gels, foams, and varnishes contain more fluoride than any toothpastes or mouthwashes you will find over the counter.

The differences between the three types of procedures:

• Varnishes are brushed on the teeth
• Foams are put into a mouth guard, which is applied to the teeth for 1 to 4 minutes
• Gels are brushed on to the teeth or they can be applied by using a mouth guard.

Fluoride Supplements

Your dentists can also provide fluoride supplements to you. They are available in a liquids or tablets form. You are only able to receive these supplements if you receive a prescription from your dentist. They are not sold over the counter.

Why it is important to make sure your child is receiving enough fluoride

Infants and children between the ages of 6 months to 16 years need to use fluoride. The reason for this is that during this age period children are developing the permanent teeth. Fluoride toothpastes, mouth rinses, and fluoride treatments play a huge role in fighting tooth decay as well as strengthening developing teeth.

Medical Conditions that could improve from receiving high levels of fluoride

An important factor to remember is that people with certain medical conditions may be more susceptible to tooth decay. People who are more likely to be more at risk to tooth decay would benefit tremendously if they go to the dentist frequently for fluoride treatments.

People who should consider additional fluoride treatments are the following:

• People Whom Experience Dry Mouths: Dry mouth caused by diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome, people who take certain medications (ex. allergy medications, antihistamines, anti - anxiety medications, and high blood pressure medications), and head and neck radiation treatment makes an individual more susceptible to tooth decay. The lack of saliva makes it harder for food particles to be washed away and acids to be neutralized.
• Gum Disease: Also known as gingivitis, gum disease can expose more of your teeth or your teeth's roots to bacteria causing the possibility of developing tooth decay.
• Constant Cavities: If you notice that you get cavities (one or more), yearly then it would be a good idea to make frequent appoints to receive fluoride treatments from your dentist.
• If You Have Crowns, Bridges or Braces: These dental treatments can increase your chances of getting tooth decay at the point where the crown meets your original tooth structure or around the brackets of orthodontic bridges or braces.

A good tip to remember: Many bottled waters sold in the shops do not contain fluoride. So when you purchase a bottle of purified water make sure the label states that the water contains fluoride because if you are drinking bottled water on a daily basis you could be hurting your teeth in the end by not proving your teeth with the proper amount of fluoride they needs.