Fluoride Treatment in Pittston, PA

Pittston Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride helps support tooth enamel and fights decay to keep your teeth healthy and strong. We recommend fluoride to our adult and adolescent patients as the final step of their cleaning, to prevent tooth decay and keep your smile looking its best.

What is fluoride?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in soil, water, and rocks and is sometimes added to municipal water supplies. Topical fluoride can be produced synthetically and is used in various dental products, such as fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinses.

Fluoride and Oral Health

When teeth are exposed to acids, they can lose minerals, this is called demineralization. Fluoride helps to prevent demineralization and also helps to reverse it by making the tooth structure more resistant to acidic attacks from plaque, bacteria, and sugars in the mouth. It also helps restore and rebuild the minerals in teeth, a process known as remineralization.

Using fluoride is especially important for patients who are at high risk for developing tooth decay or gum disease. Some risk factors include:

Excessive use of drugs or alcohol
History of eating disorders
Poor oral health
Lack of professional dental care
A poor diet
Dry mouth or decreased saliva
Weak tooth enamel

Interested in Fluoride Treatment in Pittston, PA?

Fluoride Treatments for Adolescent Patients

Fluoride treatments can be especially beneficial for teens, as they are more prone to dental caries. Fluoride can help prevent cavities and decay in a teen’s teeth by making their enamel more resistant to acidic attacks as they mature.

Professional Fluoride Treatment in Pittston, PA

The best way to monitor the use of fluoride is to visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings, as well as professional fluoride treatments. These treatments are important in maintaining dental health and preventing dental cavities.

During treatment, our experienced dentists will apply a concentrated rinse, fluoride gel, or foam to your teeth. This treatment is usually left on the teeth for one to four minutes before rinsing off. Fluoride varnish can also be applied to the teeth and left to harden. This treatment usually takes less than a few minutes.

Afterward, it is important not to eat or drink for 30 minutes to allow the fluoride to be absorbed by the teeth. Patients can continue their oral hygiene routine, including brushing teeth and flossing like usual. Fluoride treatments are usually done every three, six, or 12 months, depending on the patient’s needs.