As a leading family dental practice on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, we understand the importance of preventive care in maintaining your and your family’s oral health. That’s why we’re passionate about the benefits of fluoride! This incredible mineral has been shown to prevent tooth decay, strengthen teeth and even fight gum disease.
We want you to have all the information you need to make informed decisions about your oral health. So, let’s dive into the different types of fluoride, the amazing benefits, and how Tooth Sparkler can help you with professional fluoride treatments.
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral shown to help prevent tooth decay. It does this by strengthening the tooth enamel, the hard outer layer of your teeth. This makes them more resistant to decay and keeps them healthy for longer.
You can find fluoride in a few different sources, including drinking water, soil and food. It’s also added to toothpaste, mouthwash, and in professional fluoride treatments at your dentist.
What are the Benefits of Fluoride?
Fluoride is a key player in maintaining optimal oral health. Let’s take a closer look at the various benefits it offers:
- Strengthens enamel: Fluoride helps to strengthen your tooth enamel, making it more resistant to acids produced by bacteria that cause tooth decay.
- Remineralises and repairs: When you consume food and drinks, the bacteria in your mouth can produce acid that attacks the enamel, leading to tooth decay. By using fluoride, the enamel becomes more resistant to these acids and can repair itself, effectively reversing the early stages of decay. By incorporating fluoride into your oral hygiene routine, you can improve your oral health and potentially avoid expensive dental procedures like root canals in the future. The remineralisation and repair properties of fluoride can also help to keep your teeth strong and healthy as you age, preventing the need for more invasive dental procedures later in life.
- Prevents plaque buildup: By reducing the activity of bacteria that cause plaque formation, fluoride makes it harder for microorganisms to form calcium phosphate crystals on your teeth, which leads to less tartar formation and, ultimately, less gum disease.
- Reduces gum inflammation: Fluoride has been shown to reduce inflammation around the gums’ junction with exposed root surfaces, where bacteria thrive. This helps to make gums less susceptible to infection from harmful pathogens like Streptococcus mutans, the most common cause of cavities.
- Treats sensitivity and erosion: Finally, fluoride has been proven to be an effective treatment for tooth sensitivity and erosion, helping protect your teeth and keep them healthy.
What are the Different Types of Fluoride?
There are several types of fluoride commonly found in various dental products. The most common are:
- Sodium fluoride: This is the most common type of fluoride used in toothpaste and mouthwash. It’s also added to some public water supplies to help prevent tooth decay.
- Stannous fluoride: Often used in mouthwash and toothpaste, it’s known for its ability to reduce plaque and prevent gingivitis.
- Acidulated phosphate fluoride: Usually found in gels or foams applied to the teeth during a dental visit, this type of fluoride is effective at preventing tooth decay and can help repair early signs of decay.
- Sodium monofluorophosphate: This type is often used in toothpaste and mouthwash. It’s similar to sodium fluoride and is a champion at helping prevent tooth decay.
- Calcium fluoride: This is a naturally occurring form of fluoride found in some water sources. It’s not as effective at preventing tooth decay as other forms of fluoride.
It’s important to note that regardless of the type of fluoride used, you should use it as directed to achieve maximum benefits and results. You should also talk to your dentist about which type of fluoride is right for you, as some people may have specific needs or conditions that require a different kind of fluoride.
The Best Way to Use Fluoride
To ensure you reap the maximum benefits of fluoride, you should know how to use it effectively. While different forms of fluoride are available, such as supplements and professionally applied treatments, the topical application of fluoride is the most effective way to prevent tooth decay.
One way to apply fluoride topically is by regularly using fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. When brushing your teeth, make sure to use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste to help remove plaque and bacteria from the surface of your teeth. Rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash can help kill bacteria and freshen your breath while delivering fluoride to your teeth.
It’s also important to remember that while fluoride is beneficial, excessive consumption can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which can cause discolouration of the teeth. This is why following your dentist’s recommended dosage and application instructions is essential.
Why You Should Use Fluoride Toothpaste
The easiest way to use fluoride to protect and strengthen your teeth is with toothpaste. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste will help prevent cavities and even repair teeth damaged by decay.
Click here to read more about fluoride toothpaste and how to choose the right toothbrush.
Is it Safe for Children to Use Fluoride Toothpaste?
When brushing your baby’s teeth, you should just use water on a toothbrush until they’re 18 months old. After that, introducing toothpaste is safe, but choosing the right kind is essential. The Australia Dental Association recommends using low-fluoride toothpaste for children aged 18 months to 6 years. You’ll sometimes see this called children’s toothpaste; it has less fluoride than adult toothpaste, so it’s safe for younger children. It’s also important to use the right amount of toothpaste; a pea-sized amount is plenty for children in this age range.
Professional Fluoride Treatments in Sydney
One of the most effective ways to prevent cavities and promote overall dental health is having regular professional fluoride treatments at a Sydney dentist.
Our team of experts understands the importance of fluoride for dental health. We offer highly concentrated fluoride solutions during our professional fluoride treatments. This solution is applied to your teeth, allowing the fluoride to fully penetrate the enamel, strengthening your teeth and preventing decay.
Not all fluoride treatments are created equal. Your dental health needs are unique, so we work with you to determine the best type of fluoride treatment for you. Our dental experts will take the time to discuss your dental health with you and recommend the best fluoride solution that will work for you.
Contact us today to schedule your professional fluoride treatment and discover the benefits of this amazing mineral for your oral health.
