Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps strengthen teeth and prevents cavity formation. It has been a part of essential oral health treatment for a very long time. At Pediatric Eyes and Smiles, we provide specialized fluoride treatment for children of all ages. We provide comprehensive children dental care in Urbana, MD. Fluoride is important for supporting the tooth enamel and it fights off bacteria.
Your child should get 2 to 4 fluoride treatments in a year. The number and frequency depend on your kid’s oral health and their chances of developing cavities. Children cannot always clean their teeth like adults. They are likely to miss nooks, corners, and crannies, increasing the risk of bacterial action.
When you bring your child for fluoride treatment, our pediatric dentist or hygienist will carefully examine and apply a varnish with the right amount of fluoride.
Professionally administered fluoride treatment offers many benefits including the following:
• Preventing tooth decay
• Protecting the enamel by forming a barrier
• Preventing food particles and bacteria from getting into corners and grooves
The treatment requires a single sitting and your child can brush after 5 hours.
Children as young as 1 year can get cavities. Early fluoride treatment can help prevent cavities and associated dental diseases in the future. Fluoride varnish is a protective coating painted on the teeth for preventing new cavities and stopping cavities that may have already started. The coating will release fluoride over a period of time, thus helping strengthen the teeth.
Fluoride treatment is especially beneficial in children who are at a higher risk of developing dental caries. Cavities are formed when there is bacteria build-up on teeth and gums and create a layer of plaque. This plaque is capable of breaking down the enamel layer.
At Pediatric Eyes and Smiles, Dr. Steven Tan, our Pediatric dentist in Urbana, MD, suggests that your child should receive fluoride treatment at least once every 6 months. This usually means that the treatment can be provided along with the routine dental exam and cleaning.
