Your dentist will advise you to brush your teeth at least twice every day. There are many different types of toothpaste on the market that are all designed to prevent cavities and tartar, as well as take care of your gum health and your general oral health.
Almost all of these brands of toothpaste contain fluoride. Let’s talk about what fluoride is and how it can help you maintain healthy teeth.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a natural mineral that is a compound of the element fluorine, which is atomic number 9 on the Periodic Table of Elements. Although it’s natural, fluoride is not safe for humans to ingest in large amounts – which is why you will notice a warning on your toothpaste regarding fluoride.
In small amounts, however, when fluoride is applied directly to the teeth via toothpaste, it strengthens them. Let’s take a look at the benefits of fluoride.
Advantages of a Fluoride Toothpaste
There are several main advantages to using a fluoride toothpaste every day, including the following:
It Remineralizes the Teeth
Bacteria can slowly eat away the enamel of your teeth, stripping it of essential minerals and causing its decay. This process is called demineralization.
Fluoride can fill in these areas of decay, which is called remineralization. While it does this, it also attracts other vital minerals like calcium – which, in turn, helps to repair the damage to our teeth and to strengthen enamel.
It Prevents Bacteria Buildup
Fluoride’s antibacterial properties also help to prevent bacteria from growing and spreading in the teeth. It also disables the microbes from the bacteria to stick to our teeth. Thus, the presence of plaque and tartar will also be minimized.
It Reinforces Enamel in Children
Fluoride toothpaste is safe to use even for kids. For children younger than 3 years old, experts recommend that parents brush their children’s teeth with only a very tiny amount of fluoridated toothpaste.
The advantage to this is that fluoride hardens the enamel of the teeth even before they fully emerge in young children. This helps to ensure that the teeth are strong enough to resist cavities and infection. Furthermore, it continues to help by protecting the enamel against the acid in sugary foods.
Family Dentist in Henderson, NV
Given all the benefits we can get from using fluoride toothpaste twice a day or more, it is best to use a toothpaste with fluoride rather than a nonfluorinated toothpaste. Although our city water is fortified with fluoride, brushing the teeth actually pushes the mineral into the teeth to reinforce its integrity and strength. This also helps to thwart any oral disease or bacteria from growing in your mouth.
If you think you are not getting enough fluoride, or if you have any dental concerns, Dedicated Dental is more than ready to help you with your oral issues. We want to be your dentist for excellent oral health and dental maintenance for a lifetime.
Give us a call at (702) 566-5509 or request an appointment via our online form now to see our trusted dental specialists. We want to see your smile!
