Why your dentist in Romford recommends fluoride
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in a lot of different types of food and in water. It is especially important in dentistry as it helps to prevent the occurrence of tooth decay by remineralising your tooth enamel which is attacked by harmful acids in your mouth when you eat foods rich in sugar and starch. Unfortunately, depending on the area in which you live, there may not be sufficient levels of fluoride in the water making your teeth prone to decay and demineralisation, so it is in these cases that your dentist Romford can prescribe you a fluoride toothpaste, or recommend you to buy one from a drugstore or pharmacy.
What is fluoride?
Your teeth are attacked on a daily basis by harmful acids that are created when the bacteria in your teeth come into contact with foods containing sugars and starch. When they are attacked, your teeth slowly lose some of the minerals that are contained in them, making them prone to sensitivity and decay. Fluoride works to remineralise and strengthen your enamel after it has been demineralised thereby making it resistant to regular acid attacks. Fluoride is found in many foods and in the water you drink, however depending on the area you live in, the fluoride levels in your water may be significantly low, in which case your dentist Romford can offer you different forms of fluoride to ensure that your teeth remain protected. Alternative fluoride treatments include fluoride toothpastes, fluoride varnishes and gel treatments which are all readily offered at H Dental.
What is fluorosis?
While fluoride is extremely important in protecting your teeth from decay, extensive use can lead to a condition known as fluorosis which is harmless but unappealing to look at. Fluorosis is characterised by white or brown spots that appear on your teeth and differ in size and visibility. Fluorosis mainly affects people who were extensively exposed to fluoride in their childhood before their adult teeth grew in. Fortunately, if your teeth have already grown in, it is highly unlikely that you can develop fluorosis, making children beneath the ages of eight to ten years old the most at risk of developing the condition in their later years.
What are the signs and symptoms of fluorosis?
There are not many signs and symptoms when it comes to fluorosis as it is not harmful to your oral health, nor does it present any pain or discomfort. The main and only way to detect that you have fluorosis is tooth discolouration; this discolouration is dependent on the severity of the condition and ranges from mild white flecks or spots to dark brown spots all over your tooth surface. Your dentist Romford will be able to detect what stage of fluorosis your teeth are at and advise you with the best available solutions.
Can fluorosis be treated?
Unfortunately, no amount of oral hygiene will get rid of the signs of fluorosis, however your dentist may be able to offer you different forms of cosmetic dentistry such as dental veneers, dental bonding and regular tooth whitening or bleaching. The majority, if not all of the cosmetic treatments available to mask the signs of fluorosis can only be carried out on patients above the age of eighteen, but your dentist will be able to advise you on the best course of action for your individual case.