Are Fluoride Treatments Essential?

The CDC claims tap water in America contains trace amounts of fluoride to reduce tooth decay. The body also claims 25 percent of tooth decay has been reduced in America by drinking fluoridated water. However, the American Dental Association recommends getting professional in-office fluoride treatment In Easley, SC, as a measure to strengthen enamel and prevent cavities. Isn’t there a contradiction in the claims made by both organizations? The contradictions glare at you when you receive information professional fluoride treatments are needed every three, six, or 12 months. This blog aims to clear the contradictions and to give you reasons why fluoride treatments are essential to reduce the risk of tooth decay.

Explaining Fluoride Treatment

Professional grade fluoride treatments from the dental office In Easley contain a higher concentration of fluoride applied by a dentist or hygienist to your teeth to improve their health and reduce the chances of cavities. In-office fluoride therapies are in the form of solutions, gels, varnishes, or foam.

You can also find some potent fluoride treatments over the counter for use at home but only under the specific direction of the dentist in Easley, SC. The fluoride used in in-office therapies is similar to the fluoride in toothpaste. However, professional treatments contain higher doses offering immediate benefits.

What Are the Benefits of Fluoride Treatments?

• The benefits of fluoride treatments are manifold. Fluoride assists the body in using minerals like calcium and phosphate entirely. The minerals are reabsorbed by the teeth to repair weakened enamel.
• When the teeth are developing, fluoride joins into the tooth structure to strengthen its enamel, making it less vulnerable to bacteria and cavities.
• Fluoride can slow or even reverse the development of cavities by harming the bacteria responsible for holes.

When coupled together, the benefits of fluoride help:

• Reduce the time and money you spend at the emergency dentist in Easley for unnecessary treatments.
• Reduce your risk of cavities and slow them down.
• Delay the need for expensive dental work from the dentist near you.
• Prolong the life of baby teeth.

When preventing cavities and slowing the growth of microorganisms in your mouth, fluoride treatments also help to prevent gum disease, premature loss of teeth, and reduce tooth pain.

The WHO states fluoride treatments can improve oral health, which is a significant predictor of your overall health. When you maintain poor oral hygiene, you become susceptible to various other health conditions, including cardiovascular disease.

Fluoride Treatment Recommendations

The CDC and the ADA both recommend frequent exposure to tiny amounts of fluoride every day reduces the risk of dental cavities for all ages. People drinking fluoridated tap water and brushing their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is sufficient. Fluoride treatments provide additional benefits for children and adults at a higher risk of cavities.

Dental cavities are the most common childhood chronic illness among children and five times more common than asthma. Therefore, recommendations are made by the American Academy of pediatrics for fluoride treatments to all children soon as their teeth emerge to prevent decay, pain, and future dental infections.

Dentists must repeat the fluoride treatments every three to six months after assessing the child’s risk of dental caries.

Adults have varying recommendations for fluoride treatments. Various studies have investigated different concentrations, doses, and frequencies of treatment.

Professional fluoride treatment helps if you are at a moderate to high risk of developing tooth decay. However, many experts recommend you get fluoride treatments earlier if you are at a higher risk of cavities. Therefore the optimal method to determine how essential fluoride treatments are is to discuss the risks and benefits with your dentist before you undergo the treatment. You must also consider other sources of fluoride you could be getting, including fluoride toothpaste, water, and mouthwash.

The Effectiveness of Fluoride Treatments

A considerable body of evidence from randomized controlled trials is considered the gold standard for scientific studies that have established the benefits of professional topical fluoride treatments in preventing tooth decay. In addition, one systematic review reported that fluoride treatments with varnish have a significant effect on preventing cavities in primary and permanent teeth. Therefore considerable evidence is available to prove fluoride treatments are indeed beneficial and essential for most. Best of all, the treatments are safe so long as experienced dentists provide them after considering the patient’s needs and risk of dental cavities.