Experience Natural Enamel Protection With Dr. Grubb

A bright, healthy smile starts with strong, decay-free teeth. While brushing and flossing daily help maintain your dental health, fluoride treatments provide an extra layer of protection against cavities. Dr. Richard Grubb at Family Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry in Havre De Grace, MD, offers professional fluoride treatments to strengthen teeth and prevent tooth decay.

Dr. Grubb and his team use fluoride to create a better oral environment and fight the beginning stages of decay. Call (410) 939-5800 today to schedule a general dental appointment with our Havre De Grace dentist and compassionate staff.

What Are Fluoride Treatments?

Fluoride treatments involve applying a high-concentration fluoride varnish, gel, or foam to the teeth using trays that fit over your teeth like mouthguards. The fluoride varnish is left on the teeth for one to four minutes during a routine dental checkup to allow it to absorb into the enamel. 

Fluoride works to protect your teeth and prevent tooth decay in two ways:

• Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, making it more resistant to acid attacks that cause cavities. Fluoride becomes incorporated into the structure of the enamel itself as the teeth develop.
• It inhibits plaque bacteria from producing acids that erode the enamel. Fluoride interferes with the metabolic processes of plaque bacteria that convert sugars into tooth-damaging acids.

Professional fluoride treatments done in the dental office contain a much higher concentration than over-the-counter fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. The controlled application allows the naturally occurring mineral to thoroughly penetrate the tooth enamel and provide strengthened protection against decay.

How Fluoride Works To Prevent Tooth Decay

There are three ways that fluoride works to protect your teeth from tooth decay:

• Speeds Up Remineralization: Minerals like calcium and phosphate help rebuild and strengthen tooth enamel after an acid attack. Fluoride makes this remineralization process happen faster, allowing the enamel to recover before permanent damage and dental caries occur.
• Slows Down Acid Demineralization: Fluoride interferes with plaque bacteria’s ability to produce cavity-causing acids after you eat sugary or starchy foods. Less acid means less dissolution of the tooth’s mineral content.
• Disrupts Bacterial Metabolism: Fluoride also directly inhibits enzymes that oral bacteria need to thrive and produce acid. It starves harmful plaque bacteria while leaving beneficial bacteria unharmed.

Regular fluoride treatments maximize these protective mechanisms to keep your smile healthy and strong and reduce your risk of tooth decay.

Benefits of Fluoride Treatments

Professional fluoride treatments offer a range of benefits, including:

• Strengthened tooth enamel that better resists acid attacks from plaque bacteria
• Reduced risk of developing cavities and tooth decay
• Less need for dental fillings and other restorative work
• Improved ability to remineralize enamel after an acidic challenge like drinking soda
• Whiter, more stain-resistant teeth
• Decreased inflammation and sensitivity in existing cavities
• Better dental health for people with braces, crowns, and bridges that can be difficult to keep clean
• Extra protection for children and teens while their permanent teeth are still developing

Fluoride helps maintain tooth enamel optimally mineralized and cavity-free so you can enjoy eating and drinking your favorite foods without worry.

Candidates for Fluoride Treatments

While everyone can benefit from professional fluoride treatments, some individuals are especially good candidates:

• Children and adolescents, while their permanent teeth are still developing
• Adults at high risk for cavities due to diet, medications, or health conditions
• Individuals with exposed root surfaces from receding gums
• Those with limited dexterity who struggle with daily oral hygiene and fluoride toothpaste use
• Anyone with existing dental restorations like crowns, bridges, implants, and braces
• Athletes and performers who use sports drinks and sugary products frequently
• Patients with dry mouth from certain medications, radiation therapy, or autoimmune conditions

Fluoride helps replenish and strengthen weakened enamel to prevent dental caries and tooth decay. Dr. Grubb evaluates each patient’s risk factors to determine the ideal fluoride treatment schedule. Some may benefit from periodic fluoride supplements every three to six months, while higher-risk individuals may need more frequent applications with an at-home fluoride toothpaste or fluoride mouth rinses.

Fluoride Treatment Process at Family Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry

Receiving a professional fluoride treatment at our Havre De Grace dental office is a simple, comfortable process:

• A dental hygienist cleans and polishes your teeth to remove any plaque, tartar, and debris that could form a barrier to the fluoride.
• Custom dental trays fit snugly over your teeth. These ensure the fluoride gel is applied evenly and contacts all tooth surfaces.
• We’ll apply a fluoride foam or gel into the trays, which we then place onto your teeth for one to four minutes. You’ll sit with the trays in place while the fluoride absorbs into your enamel.
• After this brief application, we remove the trays, and you’ll rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. The fluoride will continue strengthening your teeth over the next 24 to 48 hours.
• Depending on your cavity risk, Dr. Grubb may recommend visiting our Havre De Grace dental office for a fluoride treatment every three to six months to maintain the protective benefits. Some patients undergo more frequent applications, including using prescribed fluoride toothpaste.

Post-Fluoride Treatment Care

Dr. Grubb recommends waiting 30 minutes to an hour before eating after a fluoride treatment, as your teeth might be slightly more porous and sensitive than normal following fluoride treatment.

With a little care immediately after your appointment, you can eat whatever you like within 24 hours. The fluoride will have fully settled into your enamel by then. Just be gentle at first and avoid temperature extremes or staining foods to get the most out of your treatment.

Let your dentist know if you have any other questions!