From an early age, children are taught to brush their teeth multiple times a day, including just before heading to bed, as a way to establish good dental hygiene for the rest of life. While brushing teeth helps remove plaque and other harmful bacteria from the mouth, the toothpaste also includes fluoride that helps rebuild and maintain tooth enamel. Fluoride helps make the tooth more resistant to acid attacks and reverses early signs of tooth decay.

Plaque and other sugars break down tooth enamel through a process called demineralization, but by adding such minerals as fluoride, calcium and phosphate to the diet, the process can be reversed. This is especially important for young children, as fluoride can be incorporated into the development of permanent teeth, making it more difficult for acids to harm the teeth they will have the rest of their life.

Fluoride is included today in many toothpastes and mouth rinses, and is added to the water in many areas. This passive addition of fluoride is not always enough, though, which is why Brockport Dental offers two fluoride-based treatments that, combined with brushing and other healthy habits, can help maintain strong teeth.

Topical fluoride treatments strengthen teeth once they have erupted, seeping into the outer tooth enamel and resisting decay. This is the type that is included in over-the-counter products, but children should have a professional application twice a year during their dental checkups to protect teeth going forward.

Systemic fluoride treatments strengthen teeth that have erupted, along with those developing under the gums. This fluoride comes mostly through foods and the water supply, but it can also be prescribed as a gel by your dentist or physician and is generally recommended for young children through teenagers.

Your dentist may offer other alternatives if they notices signs of deep pits or fissures on the chewing surfaces of teeth, frequent sugar or carbohydrate intake or a history of dental decay. To learn more about fluoride treatments or to schedule your next appointment, call the team Brockport Dental at 585-589-0000 or request an appointment conveniently online now.