Fluoride Treatment

Dr. Sharp may decide that fluoride should be part of your overall treatment. Fluoride treatments re-mineralize teeth, stop developing cavities, and make your teeth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque, bacteria, and sugars in the mouth. New research has found that fluoride treatment can benefits patients of all ages. Previously, fluoride was viewed in the oral health community as a tool to help strengthen the still-developing teeth of young children. With further study, however, oral health experts now believe that topical fluoride — the kind in toothpastes, mouth rinses, and fluoride treatments — can help fight decay in patients of all ages.

You may require fluoride treatment if:

• You take medications that cause dry mouth as a symptom or have an underlying medical condition that causes dry mouth. Without a steady flow of saliva, your teeth have a great risk of suffering the effects of tooth decay.

• You suffer from gum recession. As your gums pull away from the base of your teeth, the delicate roots located below the gum line become further exposed to harmful oral bacteria.

• You wear braces. When not cleaned properly, orthodontic appliances allow oral bacteria to remain trapped, which can result in an increased risk of cavities.
  You’ve received radiation therapy. Radiation therapies such as chemo can damage salivary glands, causing the development of dry mouth.