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Cavities are always a possible problem, no matter a person’s age. However, young children are often most at risk because of their minimal dexterity when it comes to brushing their teeth. For a child, cavities can be a harsh reality when enjoying too many sweets. For adults, these small holes can be the result of neglecting oral hygiene habits at home. Fortunately, at Sunny Dental, our team of experts knows how to combat tooth decay and better protect teeth of all ages. With fluoride treatment, we can help you and your child’s teeth stay safe between appointments with this natural and safe mineral. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a dentist in Lancaster who is ready to help you maintain a healthier smile.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that is known for its ability to combat tooth decay and strengthen tooth enamel. Found in many water sources throughout the world, it can be a pivotal method of treatment to keep smiles of all ages better protected against cavities. Most commonly recommended for children because of their increased risk for decay, fluoride treatments are a great way to safeguard their developing teeth, giving them an opportunity to enjoy their primary teeth as long as possible before it’s time to welcome their permanent adult teeth.
If you’re wondering why a children’s dentist is always recommending your little one have a fluoride treatment, it’s because there are many great benefits that come with protecting growing smiles. Yes, fluoride is great for all patients, no matter the age, but it can be most helpful for children. Until your child is 7 or 8 years old, they are unlikely to be able to brush their teeth without assistance. Helping them reach the areas of their mouth that can be difficult for small hands is important if you want to keep bad bacteria from forming and causing harmful acids to eat away at their tooth enamel.
Even if you are diligent about reaching every tooth during their morning and nighttime routine, allowing a children’s dentist to apply fluoride can serve as another layer of protection. Between these regular applications, using fluoride toothpaste at home, and drinking fluoridated tap water, you can make sure your child’s teeth are staying free of decay and cavities year-round.
Believe it or not, the older you and your child get, the more tooth enamel breaks down. Over time, this can lead to a thinning of this initial layer, causing stains to show and decay to reach the inner layers much easier than before. With the help of fluoride treatment, the tooth enamel can remain strong and more durable, effectively restoring the surface and better protecting teeth from regular wear and tear.
At Sunny Dental, our team of professionals can assure you that the time it takes to apply fluoride is very little and can become accomplished during a regular dental checkup and cleaning appointment. Using a highly fluoridated paste, we can apply it to each tooth’s surface. It takes very little time to apply and is completely painless, so you or your child do not need to worry about feeling any discomfort during the application process.
Once the fluoride is successfully applied, it is best to wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking. This will allow the fluoride to set properly and create a protective coating over the surface of the tooth. After this time is up, it is important that you remember to follow the recommended instructions regarding the use of fluoride toothpaste. You and your child should also be brushing twice a day for two minutes as well as flossing at least once a day and rinsing with an ADA-approved mouthwash.
