Fluoride is a mineral that dentists have dubbed “nature’s cavity fighter.” While it is common knowledge that fluoride treatments have numerous dental health benefits for children, many people may not realize what this wonderful medicine can do for their oral health as adults. In fact, all adults should use fluoride toothpaste unless advised to the contrary by a dentist or another doctor. Here are a few common questions about the benefits of adults using fluoride as well as their answers.
How Can Fluoride Help Adults?
It’s generally known that fluoride strengthens developing teeth in children, but it can have benefits long after the teeth have fully matured. Topical fluoride such as that found in toothpaste, oral treatments, and mouth rinses can prevent cavities from forming in patients of all ages. It can be particularly beneficial for people with dry mouth, as it can help compensate for the lack of saliva flow and the protection it provides.
Do I Need a Supplemental Fluoride Treatment?
If you live in a community with fluoridated water, brush regularly with fluoride toothpaste, and have healthy teeth, you should already be getting enough fluoride. However, fluoride treatments may be able to help if:
You take medications or have a condition that causes dry mouth
Dry mouth is a listed side effect for many medications such as antihistamines and medicines that address anxiety, allergies, and hypertension. This condition can also be caused by diabetes and Sjögren’s syndrome. Saliva flow is a crucial part of protecting your teeth from infections and injuries because it keeps them lubricated, breaks down food, and helps dilute and flush away harmful chemicals and food debris. Fluoride treatments may be able to help keep your teeth healthy if you suffer from dry mouth.
You have gum disease or a receding gumline
Gum disease is an insidious little menace that can sneak up on you and cause lasting damage before you know it. While the best way to avoid gum disease is to practice proper oral hygiene and see your dentist regularly, your teeth can become more vulnerable to injury and decay if your gumline has already receded. Your dentist may recommend fluoride treatments in this case to help reinforce your teeth.
Do you wear braces?
Braces can make it more difficult to thoroughly clean your teeth, and plaque or food debris clinging to them can cause cavities if it is not removed regularly. Your dentist may use fluoride treatments to prevent this from happening if you are in the middle of a round of orthodontics.
Fluoride can provide immense oral health benefits for adults. Consulting with your dentist can determine if fluoride treatments are right for you.
About the Author
Dr. Moftah El-Ghadi earned his dental doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania and completed a General Practice Residency at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He is proud to be a member of the Academy of Osseointegration and the Massachusetts Dental Society and a Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontics. His office offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on how fluoride treatments may be able to help you, contact his office online or dial (508) 996-6777.