{"id":187,"date":"2021-06-08T12:41:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-08T12:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.norwooddentalcare.com\/blog\/?p=187"},"modified":"2021-07-08T12:45:41","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T12:45:41","slug":"healthy-fluoride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.norwooddentalcare.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/08\/healthy-fluoride\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Fluoride Treatment from Your Dentist be Beneficial?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It\u2019s a routine dental visit for a cleaning and examination. The dental hygienist has removed the plaque and tartar and polished your teeth. Now, he or she asks if you would like fluoride treatment<\/a>. What is this exactly, and is it really beneficial? Continue reading to learn about the advantages that fluoride offers so you can enjoy the best oral health possible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Fluoride?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fluoride is an ionic compound that derives from the element fluorine. About 95% of the fluoride added to public water comes from phosphorite rock. The first discovery of a connection between fluoride and cavity prevention was in the early 1900\u2019s, but it wasn\u2019t until the 1960\u2019s that municipalities started adding fluoride to their water supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does Fluoride Prevent Cavities?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fluoride helps to prevent cavities by binding to the tooth enamel, which is the hard-outer layer. It\u2019s primarily made of hydroxyapatite, a crystal composed of calcium, phosphorous, hydrogen and oxygen. Through a chemical reaction, fluoride replaces the hydroxyl molecule on hydroxyapatite to make the tooth more resistant to the acids released by oral bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discovery of fluoride has been a game changer for dental and overall health, as it helps to prevent decay. Untreated tooth decay can lead to tooth loss, gum disease and oral cancer. To make matters worse, a severe tooth infection doesn\u2019t stop in the mouth. Over time, it can travel to other parts of the body to cause complex health issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Fluoride Treatment Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because the dentist and hygienist are able to get a full view of your teeth and gums, they will make recommendations based on the condition of your oral health. In most cases, the suggested frequency for fluoride treatment is every six to 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what the treatment usually entails:<\/p>\n\n\n\n