As much as we love to help our patients treat their dental needs, we also want to help prevent those needs from occurring! One of the easiest and most effective ways of preventing dental decay is by receiving fluoride treatments during your routine dental cleanings.
With this quick and easy treatment, you can minimize your risk of getting cavities and also protect any existing fillings that you may already have.
We understand that you might have some questions about fluoride, so here’s some commonly asked questions that we get from patients:
IS FLUORIDE SAFE?
YES! Fluoride is actually a naturally occurring mineral that is found in water sources. The fluoride treatment that we provide in our office is a topical application which means it is placed directly onto the tooth’s surface and not being ingested.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET FLUORIDE TREATMENT?
It is recommended that fluoride treatments are done every 6 - 12 months. However, for those that are more cavity prone it is recommended as soon as every 3 months.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A HIGHER RISK FOR CAVITIES?
There are a lot of different factors that can lead to being at a high risk for decay. Some of these factors include dry mouth, gum recession, poor personal oral care, frequent snacking/sipping (even with “healthy sugars” such as fruit), old and worn fillings, heartburn, and many more. Almost everyone is susceptible to decay! We found this great article.
CAN I EAT FOOD AFTER MY FLUORIDE TREATMENT?
Of course! We only use the most advanced type of fluoride treatment available. However we recommend not eating anything really hot or hard/sticky for 4 hours after treatment as it could remove the fluoride. Alcohol is also not recommended for this amount of time, so happy hour might have to wait.
If you have any other questions about fluoride and its benefits to your oral health, be sure to ask your clinical team member for more information during your next visit.
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