Have you ever heard of fluoride? This unique and naturally-occurring mineral has been shown to strengthen tooth enamel and help keep kids free of tooth decay. In today’s blog, your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist talks about how we protect smiles of all ages from cavities with fluoride treatments.
The Benefits of Fluoride
Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral. When used in small amounts, this can actually strengthen the outer enamel of your teeth to keep the protective layer strong. This helps prevent enamel erosion so that the risk of cavities is much lower. Tooth decay occurs when factors like poor brushing and flossing and a diet high in sugar creates plaque buildup that coats the teeth and weakens the enamel, allowing bacteria to reach the sensitive inner layers of dentin to cause a cavity. But we want to offer care to help prevent this from happening, so your child can smile with confidence and avoid painful complications.
The Application Process
How do we apply fluoride to your child’s smile? When they undergo a checkup and cleaning, we will apply the material to the teeth in a varnish form. The process only takes a few seconds to finish, and we recommend children avoid food and drink for about a half hour as the material cures. This can even strengthen areas that have already begun to erode, fighting the risk of tooth decay.
Toothpaste and Tap Water
There are other ways to provide fluoride to little smiles and keep them strong. When kids brush, as they should twice a day for two minutes, they need to use toothpaste. We suggest one that contains this material, so look for the American Dental Association (ADA)’s Seal of Acceptance on the packaging. Kids who are under the age of three should only use a blot the size of a grain of rice. Kids over the age of three need a blot that is pea-sized.
Your community’s tap water also contains safe levels that can lower cavity risks, so be sure your kids drink plenty of water. This is especially important now during these hot summer days! If you have any questions about how our team will conduct an exam and cleaning, and then apply the material to the teeth, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help your kids enjoy good oral health and avoid issues like cavities and infection.
Keeping Enamel Strong and Teeth Cavity-Free in Shirley, NY
We are ready to offer care to safeguard young smiles against the onset of tooth decay with our preventive visits, so see our team today. To find out more about us, call Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY at 631.399.1600 today.
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