When you visit your family dentist in St. Petersburg, your visit might conclude with your spending 1 minute with your mouth filled with a minty tray of fluoride. But what does that fluoride do to improve your oral health?
Fluoride keeps tooth enamel strong by retarding the loss of minerals from it and by promoting the return of minerals to it. Fluoride also protects teeth from the acidic decaying properties of oral bacteria. (We all have bacteria that reside normally in our mouths.) Enamel is the outermost layer of the tooth and its primary protection against decaying elements; when the enamel is compromised, the whole tooth is at risk.
Fluoride is found in toothpaste, of course, but some communities also add it to water, and it is found in some infant formulas. If you have children and are concerned that they might not be getting enough fluoride, consult your dentist in St. Petersburg about whether fluoride supplements can be of help. Recommendations for fluoride supplementation are made with care, though. Too much of a good thing can be exactly that: too much fluoride can lead to mild discoloration of the teeth. Having your children brush their teeth carefully twice a day can ensure that they get enough fluoride.
Brushing provides fluoride, but it also performs another function that helps maintain good oral health: it removes the oral bio-film from your teeth. As mentioned above, there are bacteria that live normally our mouths. These react with the sugars in the foods we eat and start to form plaque on our teeth. If the plaque is left on the teeth, eventually it will start to decay the enamel. Each time we brush, we remove most of this biofilm. Flossing between teeth removes what cannot be easily reached with the toothbrush. Your teeth might look clean after you brush, but if you’re not used to flossing and decide to give it a try, you’ll be surprised how much gets left between your teeth by brushing alone! And remember that regular cleanings by your dentist in St. Petersburg will promote good oral health.
If the enamel on your teeth is ridged or uneven, your dentist in St. Petersburg may recommend dental sealants. A sealant is a protective coating painted right on the tooth; it is made of a thin plastic. Sealants are applied right after the teeth are professionally cleaned. They fill the grooves, minimizing the chance that decay will happen there. Sealants are used primarily on the permanent molars, and they can last about 10 years. With proper oral hygiene and possibly the use of barriers such as sealants, you and your dentist in St. Petersburg can keep your mouth healthy for years to come.
Prevent our oral health from decaying, by getting it treated at the right time from one of the renowned dentist St. Petersburg. For more information and tips on how to care your oral health, log on to website.
