01 Dec Fluoride Dental Treatment in Prescott, AZ
Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that is found in spinach, cucumbers, russet potatoes, fish, white wine, tea, and natural spring water; the list goes on and on. Absorbing fluoride from by ingesting foods such as these differs greatly from the benefit your teeth receive when fluoride is applied topically. This is because systemic fluoride is important mainly during tooth development and not necessarily once formation is complete.
There has been great controversy and confusion surrounding fluoride in the past few decades. We use fluorine compounds in a host of ways. Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is used to etch glass. It is these factory-based uses that lead people to think industrial when they hear the word fluoride.
The application of topical fluoride is recommended by the American Dental Association and has been proven to be safe and effective for promoting the remineralization of enamel. Billions of bacteria can live in your mouth at any given time. This creates an acidic environment, which is constantly threatening to cause demineralization, and can lead to sensitivity, decay, and the harboring of more bad bacteria. Fluoride binds to the enamel surface and makes it less susceptible to the negative affects of acid.
Some patients require higher strengths of topical fluoride. Unlike systemic fluoride the teeth only use what is needed and any excess will not cause harm. Fluoride is already in many over-the-counter toothpastes and mouth rinses. There are also in-office fluoride varnishes and prescription at home treatments that can be utilized. MI paste is an easy to use paste that is made of calcium, phosphate and fluoride; it helps maintain a neutral PH in the oral cavity. For those of you that are still skeptical, MI paste is available without fluoride and has been proven to be beneficial. Your dental professional can evaluate your specific fluoride needs based on your oral health status.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (12/1/2016) Dan Lockton (Flickr)