Give Your Smile Extra Protection at Locke Family Dentistry
Fluoride is a naturally-occurring element proven effective in protecting teeth from dental decay and disease. A build-up of plaque and tartar can strip your teeth’s enamel, and fluoride can help remineralize your smile for improved oral health.
At Locke Family Dentistry, our Pineville family dentist provides safe and effective fluoride treatments to patients of all ages in Alexandria, Boyce, and Rapides Parish, LA looking to shield their teeth from cavities. Discover how Dr. Virginia Locke can give your teeth an added shield against bacteria.
What are Fluoride Treatments?
Fluoride treatments are quick and effective methods for strengthening your enamel. Fluoride is a dietary supplement that’s essential to strong and healthy teeth. While you get this supplement from certain foods, water, and toothpaste, our topical fluoride treatments give added assurance to the strength of your teeth.
For this simple treatment, we’ll apply a foam, gel, or rinse containing fluoride to your teeth. After a short time, the treatment will work its magic and add extra strength to your enamel.
Our Available Fluoride Treatments:
Topical Fluoride
Topical fluoride reinforces the enamel of emerged teeth to shield them from decay and cavities. This type of fluoride is present in toothpaste, mouthwashes, and gels. Receiving a topical fluoride treatment twice each year is a great way to protect your healthy smile.
Systemic Fluoride
Systemic fluoride strengthens both emerging and developing teeth. This type of fluoride is in community water supplies, fluoride drops, and fluoride tablets. Because systemic fluoride benefits teeth yet to emerge, it’s ideal for infants and children.
The Fluoride Treatment Process
Our Pineville, LA dentist can provide fluoride treatments in rinses, gels, varnishes, and foams. It will take Dr. Locke only a few minutes to apply your treatment to your teeth. The amount of fluoride in this treatment is more concentrated than in toothpaste or drinking water.
We advise that patients wait at least 30 minutes after their treatment before eating, drinking, or rinsing. This time allows the fluoride to bond to your teeth, and interfering with the process may remove the fluoride before it has a chance to work.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are fluoride treatments safe?
As long as it’s administered properly, fluoride is safe for patients of nearly all ages. Your dentist will take the utmost care in performing your treatment to ensure your or your child’s safety. Fluoride is also in products like toothpaste and mouthwash, which dentists encourage patients to use in their at-home hygiene routines.
Can fluoride stain teeth?
If too much fluoride is administered to children’s teeth, it can result in fluorosis and stain their teeth’s enamel. Fluorosis may lead to pale spots on certain teeth and can’t be corrected through professional teeth whitening. Cosmetic dental services like porcelain veneers or dental bonding can help conceal deep stains. Rest assured that your dentist will use the minimal amount of fluoride necessary to strengthen your or your child’s teeth.
How long should you leave fluoride treatment on your teeth?
After receiving a fluoride varnish, your dentist will provide you with post-treatment instructions. You’ll typically wait around 30 minutes before rinsing, eating, or drinking to ensure the fluoride has time to bond to the teeth and begin shielding them from harmful bacteria.
How often should you get fluoride treatment?
The frequency of fluoride treatments depends on your oral health needs. Dentists recommend receiving a fluoride varnish at your biannual dental visits. When combined with professional teeth cleaning and exams, you can give your smile the strength and protection it needs to remain healthy.