Fluoride

At ONE Dental, we place a strong emphasis on the preventive dental care our patients receive. In addition to routine dental exams and cleanings and caring for your teeth and gums at home, we often recommend professional fluoride treatments to help strengthen your teeth and keep them healthy for life.

What Is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a mineral that, like calcium, makes up part of the structure of your teeth called enamel. Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the body. Despite its strength, it is still vulnerable to tooth decay.

What Is Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is the process by which tooth enamel is weakened and broken down as a result of repeated exposure to acids inside the mouth. Some of the foods and drinks we consume contain acid, and the bacteria inside our mouths produce acid as a waste product when they eat sugar.

This acid weakens the tooth enamel, eventually softening it and leading to the formation of cavities.

How Fluoride Strengthens the Teeth

Teeth benefit from fluoride in two ways: by topical application and internal ingestion. When we consume fluoride (sometimes in treated water or in supplements), our teeth can then be remineralized through the process of our saliva washing over them and through our metabolism.

We also apply fluoride to the teeth topically when we use oral care products that contain fluoride, such as toothpaste and mouthwash.

Protecting Your Teeth With Professional Fluoride Treatments

Whether you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity, have signs of tooth decay, or are not receiving enough fluoride, we might recommend professional fluoride treatments in our office. We can apply a super-concentrated dose of fluoride to strengthen your tooth enamel.

In the office, fluoride treatments come in various forms, including foams or gels with trays that are worn in the office for a few minutes. Fluoride also comes in a sticky varnish that gets painted on the teeth and remains in place for most of the day.

Our dentists can talk with you about whether professional fluoride treatments are an appropriate addition to your preventive dental care and help you select the type of treatment that best fits your lifestyle and needs.

Preventive Dentistry at ONE Dental in Miami

To learn more about professional fluoride treatments, dental sealants, and all the preventive dentistry treatments available to patients of ONE Dental, we welcome you to contact our office or schedule an appointment today.