Fluoride is Not Just for Kids

Looking after your oral health is just as important as looking after your heart or lungs. A common misconception among adults is that they can forget the basic instructions they got from parents and caregivers as children. The truth is that you need to keep up those habits for better oral health. 

This includes consuming the right minerals in the body to help sustain the health of your teeth and gums. Did you know that most adults forget that they need to use Fluoride toothpaste to keep their teeth and gums healthy? If you think that fluoride is just for kids, you’re mistaken. You shouldn’t ignore your oral health at any instance because what you ingest can have an effect on your overall health. 

For starters, the basic drinking water from municipal water supplies contains fluoride, and that’s for a good reason. Fluoride can help fight off cavities and prevent tooth decay effectively. Here’s more on this.

How Does a Cavity Form Inside and Over Teeth?

To understand how fluoride can help you prevent and fight off cavities, you have to understand what they are. Tooth decay can potentially degrade your teeth to a point where you lose them. For instance, when you eat sugary and acidic foods excessively, sugar and acidic compounds build up in your mouth.

These acids and sugars remain on your teeth for hours, even after you eat something. Additionally, you may consume beverages, snacks, and foods that further increase the acid and sugar buildup on the teeth. Repeated acid buildup harms the tooth enamel, which is the hardest tissue in the human body, causing it to lose gradually lose minerals. Once mineral loss takes place, the decay begins, which leads to cavities. 

The acid that breaks and attacks the teeth enamel comes from the bacteria present in your mouth. Fluoride reduces bacteria’s ability to break down acids and sugars, which prevents decay and resulting cavities.

How Does Fluoride Benefit Adults?

To fight off cavities and decay, tooth enamel gains minerals from saliva. Saliva contains varying compositions of minerals depending upon your food and water intake. Fluoride in drinking water provides additional minerals in the saliva that the tooth enamel can use to restore its minerals. The saliva can help the enamel strengthen itself. Fluoride not only helps rebuild degraded enamel but also enables the reversal of any decay in progress. At the very least, the use of fluoride in adequate quantities can slow down the process of any decay and then prevent it altogether.

Conclusion

Do you require teeth whitening or other oral healthcare treatments? Are you looking for the right dentists for your dental issues and conditions? At Gentle Dentistry, Dr. Derek Evans, DMD, can help you achieve your smile goals. He is a prestigious cosmetic dentistry specialist with over 14 years of experience practicing in St. George. Dr. Evans can provide you with the required dental care depending upon your oral health conditions.

Go to the official website and contact (435) 375-4276 to set an appointment today.