The cavity-fighting power of fluoride treatment in Murrieta, CA
The California Department of Public Health attributes the marked decline in tooth decay on smooth surfaces (non-pitted or non-fissured teeth) to the prevalence of fluoride through community water supplies. Nationally, fluoridated water is considered among the top 10 notable accomplishments in public health in the 1900s. The CDPH recommends topical fluoride treatment to supplement municipal water sources among those with an elevated risk of developing tooth decay. When applied safely by Scola Family Dentistry in Murrieta, CA, fluoride bolsters the tooth’s natural protective enamel. In this manner, the tooth is less vulnerable to cavities and other forms of decay that can lead to the loss of the tooth.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is natural. The mineral is present (in trace amounts) within the water that we drink and food sources, from some types of fruit to grain. Products, including tea and coffee, represent common and easy ways to augment your intake of fluoride. Think of your enamel as the armor that shields the layers of your tooth from damage. While it is stronger than skeletal bone, enamel is not indestructible. Starches and sugars promote the build-up of bacterial plaque, which erodes the teeth. Fluoride helps to strengthen the tooth’s natural defenses.
What treatments are available to me?
There are many different types of fluoride supplements that dentists such as Dr. Scola can recommend. Tablets may be taken by mouth, and gels and varnishes may be applied to the teeth. We also use Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF), a fluoride product formulated with other ingredients to kill bacteria and remineralize the teeth. Applied as a solution, SDF presents a painless, safe, and quick cavity-fighting treatment.
We work closely with our patients to recommend oral hygiene techniques and oral products that are appropriate for their habits, lifestyle, age, underlying health conditions, and needs. We generally recommend that patients brush their teeth and other bacteria-harboring areas (such as the surface of the tongue) with fluoride toothpaste. Brush at least two times each day.
Excessive consumption of fluoride and, in turn, side effects such as fluorosis, are quite rare. To further minimize the risks, we encourage patients to monitor their children when they brush. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that caregivers with children under the age of three use no more than a smear (a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste. For children older than three, the AAP recommends a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
For guidance to keep you and your child’s mouths their healthiest best, schedule an appointment. We welcome patients from throughout the Murrieta area, including Temecula, Menifee, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Sun City, and Canyon Lake.
