General dentists offer preventive and restorative dental care. One of the most popular ways they help patients to protect their smiles is by educating them on fluoride and offering special fluoride treatments if their dental enamel begins to weaken. This review discusses the role fluoride plays in general dentistry.
Fluoride is a great way to strengthen teeth enamel and help prevent cavities from forming. It is also completely safe for patients, with no known risks for most individuals. In other words, fluoride is the best friend of teeth enamel, and it should be utilized daily to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Fluoride is a mineral that is found in nature. In the early 20th century, researchers discovered that children who grew up drinking fluoridated water had a lower risk of developing cavities than those who did not. As it stands today, many general dentists recommend fluoride as a way to reduce the risk of cavities, and many communities add fluoride to their public drinking water due to its oral health benefits. The reason fluoride is so successful in reducing the risk of cavities is that it strengthens teeth enamel and reduces the risk of acidic attacks eating away at the outermost layer of the teeth.
The EPA recommends between 1.2 and 2.9 mg of fluoride each day, depending on the age of the individual and the state of their oral health. Some patients receive all of the fluoride they need daily through drinking water that contains fluoride, and many more can get all that they need through a fluoride-based toothpaste or mouthwash that they use daily.
A general dentist may recommend fluoride treatment for patients who have early signs of teeth decay or are more vulnerable to teeth decay due to previous dental history or medical conditions. For example, one of the more notable signs of decay is teeth that change color, especially if the enamel begins to turn whiter than the rest of the teeth. In this case, the dentist may recommend a special fluoride mouthwash to strengthen the enamel and help prevent cavities.
Patients can also reduce the risk of dental cavities by brushing several times each day, limiting the consumption of sugar and other refined carbohydrates, and visiting the general dentist for regular check-up visits and dental cleanings. If any early signs of tooth decay develop, then it is important to notify the general dentist as soon as possible.
Here at our dental practice, we help patients protect their smiles to reduce the risk of needing more extensive restorative treatment. One way we help patients with preventive care is through fluoride treatment. To learn more about fluoride treatment and other preventive and restorative treatment solutions, give us a call today.
Request an appointment here: https://princewilliamdental.com or call Prince William Dental at (703) 662-8287 for an appointment in our Gainesville office.
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