It’s no secret that everyone, including children, can benefit greatly from consistent preventive dental care on top of their consistent daily dental hygiene routines. However, regular dental checkups and cleanings aren’t always all that your child might need to keep their teeth strong and healthy. In some cases, children can also benefit from additional preventive measures, such as the application of fluoride treatment to the surfaces of their teeth. Fluoride is able to strengthen your child’s tooth enamel, which is their teeth’s main line of defense against harmful oral bacteria, and it may be an important step in lowering your child’s risk of developing cavities.

What fluoride treatment is designed for

The point of a good dental hygiene routine and a consistent schedule of preventive dental care is to help your child avoid having to deal with most common oral health concerns. Cavities, which are a product of tooth decay caused by harmful oral bacteria, are among the most common of these concerns, and it starts when bacteria start to weaken and erode your child’s tooth enamel. As a topical treatment that’s applied to the surfaces of your child’s teeth, fluoride is able to interact with the mineral strands of your child’s tooth enamel, strengthening it faster to reduce your child’s risk of developing tooth decay and a cavity.

How can your child benefit from it?

The process of your child’s tooth enamel eroding and the tooth developing a cavity is a progressive one. The most effective way to prevent it is for your child to keep bacteria buildup limited by brushing and floss it away every day. However, bacteria will constantly attack your child’s tooth enamel, and there may be times when they have the chance to make it especially weak. This can be a precursor to cavity development, and if your child’s dentist notices weak tooth enamel during their next visit, then they may benefit from fluoride treatment to prevent it.

Keeping your child’s teeth strong

Fluoride treatment can be an excellent choice when your child’s tooth enamel has grown especially weak, but you shouldn’t rely on it to keep your child’s teeth strong and healthy for life. This requires teaching your child to stick to a good dental hygiene routine, including brushing their teeth carefully at least twice and flossing at least once every single day. It also requires bringing your child to the dentist’s office as often as recommended for routine preventive exams and cleanings, which are important to keeping bacteria at bay and spotting weak enamel before cavities develop.

Learn about the benefits of fluoride treatment

Children who may experience weakened enamel or need help improving their hygiene routines may benefit from topical fluoride treatment at the dentist’s office. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, call Cedar Dental in Cedar Rapids, IA, today at (319) 364-7108.