Fluoride Treatments Benefits, Side Effects, and Cost

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can help strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities. The mineral supports your teeth’s enamels and fights bacteria that harm your teeth and gums. If you are at a high risk of tooth decay and dental caries, fluoride would be helpful.

However, the deposits on your teeth surfaces can depreciate, thus the need for fluoride treatments. Depending on your condition, you can receive fluoride treatments at your dentist’s office or home through toothpaste, gels, and mouth rinses.

What Should I Expect During a Professional Fluoride Treatment Procedure?

When providing fluoride treatment in Pleasant Hill, CA, your dentist can use fluoride in the form of highly concentrated gels, foam, and varnishes. The dentist can apply the fluoride treatment using a swab, gel, mouthwash, or trays.

The treatments in a dentist’s office contain more fluoride than what is in water or toothpaste. Before applying fluoride treatments on your teeth, the dentist might ask you not to eat anything 30 minutes before the procedure. If you eat before the fluoride treatment procedure, it deters the absorption of the fluoride into the enamels.

The procedure only takes a few minutes to apply the fluoride, after which your dentist will recommend ways you can adopt to maintain the levels of fluoride deposits on your teeth whitening in pleasant hill.

Home-Based Fluoride Treatments

If your fluoride deficiency is not severe, your dentist in Pleasant Hill can prescribe at-home fluoride treatment options. The home-based treatment options contain low concentrations of fluoride, and the dentist might recommend low dosages since high doses of the mineral can be toxic. Some of the home-based fluoride treatment options include:

• Fluoride toothpaste. Most kinds of toothpaste contain fluoride, thus recommendable for use. Also, your dentist can recommend specific types that can help restore fluoride deposits on your teeth.
• Mouth rinses. You can get fluoride from some mouth rinses. However, you are supposed to use them according to the dentist’s or manufacturer’s prescriptions. A low dosage will not be effective, while a high one can be toxic.
• Gels. Your dentist can give you dental trays with fluoride gels inside. The dentist will then ask you to wear the trays for some hours a day. The gels contain low concentrations of fluoride; thus, it will take time to show the expected results.

How Often Do You Need Fluoride Treatments?

If you have low levels of fluoride deposits on your teeth, you might be at risk of developing dental cavities. Some of the causes of dental cavities include:

• Excessive drug abuse, especially tobacco products
• Poor oral hygiene
• Eating disorders
• Lack of professional dental cleanings and exams
• Dry mouth
• Weak enamels

If you are at risk of developing cavities, you can get fluoride treatments every six months. Alternatively, you can consider natural sources of fluoride such as water, infant formula, and fish eaten with their bones.

Fluoride Treatment Pros and Cons

Fluoride treatments have their benefits and side effects. However, you can reduce the risk of side effects by following the guidelines of your dentist Martinez 94523.

Benefits

The benefits of fluoride treatments include:

• Helps prevent penetration of decay into the enamel by creating a fluoride layer
• Benefits people of all ages
• Strengthens your teeth’s enamels

Exposure of fluoride to your child while they are young, will help prevent developing cavities since children are at a higher risk of developing them.

Side effects

You have probably asked yourself how risky is fluoride to the body. Just like any medications, excessive consumption of fluoride can cause complications. Some of the side effects of using excess fluoride include:

• Staining and formation of pits on your teeth
• White specks on your teeth
• Complications with bone homeostasis
• Dense but weak bones

Some of the acute symptoms of fluoride toxicity include:

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Excessive sweating
• Vomiting

In some cases, fluoride overdose can lead to death. Therefore, you should consume fluoride supplements in the right dosages and keep them away from children.

Cost of Fluoride Treatment

Since fluoride treatments are preventive dental care options, your insurance plan covers your child’s treatments. However, if you are an adult, you might have to part with $10 or more for fluoride treatments depending on the fluoride treatment technique.

Fluoride Treatments Near Me

Are you I need of fluoride treatments in Pleasant Hill, CA? At Grafton Dental, you will find our team that is experienced in providing fluoride treatments depending on your condition and personal needs.