Prevent Dental Decay with Fast and Painless Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride is an essential nutrient that is critical in strengthening your teeth. Fluoride is a natural-occurring mineral found in water and soils. It’s also available in numerous toothpastes and oral rinses. Because of the ubiquitous nature of fluoride, many patients can reach their fluoride “threshold” to protect their enamel.

But what about children and adults with low fluoride levels? What options do they have to prevent tooth decay? Eagle Family Dental in Arlington, Washington, offers fluoride treatments to protect the enamel from decay and cavities. Alongside routine oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups, fluoride treatments effectively keep teeth healthy and decay-free.

How do fluoride treatments work?

When you eat or drink, the harmful bacteria feed on the starches left in your mouth. These harmful bacteria secrete acidic substances that erode your enamel over time. When the protective layer — the enamel — breaks down, cavities and tooth decay set in.

Fluoride permeates the enamel, reinforcing it and enhancing its resilience against acidic and bacterial attacks. Fluoride promotes remineralization by replenishing your enamel with essential nutrients after being eroded by acids and harmful bacteria. Moreover, fluoride’s ability to remineralize means it can reverse early tooth decay.

Fluoride becomes a vital nutrient in children with baby teeth as permanent teeth develop. When the permanent teeth develop, they become less susceptible to dental cavities. Clearly, fluoride is a robust protective measure against cavities for patients across all age groups.

What to expect during fluoride treatments

Fluoride treatment is like applying nail polish to your teeth. The procedure is quick and painless, and it doesn’t require anesthesia. There are multiple methods for administering fluoride to teeth, and in our office, we utilize a varnish for the application of fluoride treatments.

After dental cleaning, we paint fluoride on your teeth using a small brush. The process takes a few minutes to complete. After applying the varnish, it hardens after mixing with the saliva. Luckily, you can’t lick off the applied varnish, even though you might sense its presence on your teeth.

Any post-care instructions after fluoride application? You should wait about 30 minutes before eating or drinking. Additionally, don’t brush your teeth until after 4-6 hours. These steps ensure that the fluoride coating stays put and you don’t ingest the fluoride.

Benefits of fluoride treatments

We firmly believe that prevention is the key to unlocking a lifetime of healthy smiles. Preventive dentistry helps you and your loved ones stay ahead of the dental woes. Like superheroes shield their cities from harm, preventative dentistry equips you with the knowledge, tools, and techniques to protect your precious teeth and gums.

One remarkable way we use to protect your oral health is using fluoride treatments. These are the benefits of fluoride treatments.

Effective in cavity prevention
Faster treatment
Ideal for patients of all ages
Painless and non-invasive treatment
Reduces tooth sensitivity
Affordable treatment

Fluoride treatments are a time-tested and scientifically proven method to protect teeth from the damaging effects of tooth decay. When combined with a healthy diet, regular dental exams, and optimal oral hygiene, fluoride treatments can achieve a lifetime of beautiful smiles.