Fluoride Treatments for Kids
Fluoride Treatments
Dental fluoride is a natural mineral found in water and in many of our foods. Each day the enamel layer of our teeth loses this valuable mineral, making it essential to replace for the health of the tooth. Your child's teeth may not get enough fluoride on their own. Starting at birth and up to age 10, your child's adult teeth are developing, and the exposure to the right amount of fluoride is crucial to allow them to form properly. Teeth are constantly gaining and losing fluoride and other crucial minerals. The bacteria that are always present in the human mouth create damaging acids that are constantly leaching fluoride from our teeth. Many foods and water can replace it; but quite often it is not enough to keep your child's teeth at their healthiest. To combat this consistent loss of fluoride and to ensure that your child's teeth develop properly, we encourage and provide in-office fluoride treatments
All Children Can Benefit From Fluoride Treatment
The American Dental Association states that all children can benefit from receiving fluoride treatments twice a year. By applying a specially formulated gel to your child's teeth, West Mobile Children’s Dentistry will give the teeth a boost of fluoride that will help to strengthen them and fight off potential decay. This is a very safe and effective method for keeping the correct levels of fluoride in your child's teeth and helps provide a solid foundation for lifetime of proper dental health.
How is Fluoride applied?
A Fluoride paste is applied to the surfaces of the teeth. The paste will remain on the teeth for eight hours. The child may eat and drink right away, but we ask that crunchy, sticky foods be avoided.
In the best interests of the health of the tooth enamel, regular fluoride treatments should be combined with a steady supply of fluoride from other sources in the daily diet. Many fruits and vegetables, such as grapes, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, beets, and asparagus, are all high in fluoride. Fluoride toothpastes are another great and easy source, and fluoride rinses are also available over the counter. If necessary, West Mobile Children’s Dentistry will provide a prescription for a stronger toothpaste. You can get too much of a good thing as well. Too much fluoride exposure to developing teeth can result in discoloration; but with the proper guidance from West Mobile Children’s Dentistry and regular checkups, you can ensure your child receives the proper amount of fluoride to keep their teeth bright and strong.
Your Child’s Dental Health is Paramount
At West Mobile Children’s Dentistry, we understand how important it is to keep children’s mouths healthy and we will teach both you and them the habits that will preserve their teeth for a lifetime. We are proud to offer the best in children’s dental care!