You may be aware that fluoride is good for your teeth. Or that your dentist suggests you use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. However, do you know what fluoride is or why it’s good for your teeth? As a Surrey dental clinic, we can give you more information regarding this topic.
What is Fluoride?
According to the Canadian Dental Association, fluoride is a mineral that can be found in a number of places, including soil, water and a number of different foods.
It is also added to drinking water in order to help reduce tooth caries or tooth decay. In fact, not only does fluoride help prevent tooth decay, it can even help reverse it.
What are the benefits of fluoride?
Strengthens Tooth Enamel – When acids attack the enamel of the tooth, demineralization occurs. However, you do regain some minerals through foods and drinks. But when there’s more demineralization occurring than any replenishments then it can lead to tooth decay. With fluoride, however, you can help strengthen that layer of enamel and therefore prevent tooth decay.
Reverse Tooth Decay – As stated previously, any minerals lost in the tooth can be replenished. When you use fluoride on your teeth, you will be replacing the minerals that were lost.
Where can you get fluoride?
Aside from your water supply or foods, you can also get fluoride from:
- The fluoride toothpaste that you use to brush your teeth
- Applying a fluoride varnish to the surface of your teeth, which will need to be done at your dental clinic in Surrey
- Fluoride tablets
- Fluoride mouth rinse
Do I need to have a fluoride treatment?
If you use a fluoride toothpaste regularly when you brush your teeth and the drinking water in your area is also fluoridated and your teeth are healthy, you probably don’t need to have an extra fluoride treatment. However, the water in the Metro Vancouver Water district is not fluoridated.
If you have any concerns about whether or not you need fluoride treatment, you should book an appointment with your dental clinic in Surrey.
