Even though your tooth enamel is very hard, it is still vulnerable to oral bacteria and the acidic foods and beverages you consume. Overtime, these things can start to erode the microscopic mineral crystals that make up your tooth enamel, making your teeth prone to tooth decay and tooth sensitivity.
Fortunately, exposure to fluoride helps counteract this effect. Fluoride essentially replaces lost mineral crystals, preventing bacteria from exploiting tooth enamel.
If you’ve had issues with sensitivity and cavities from insufficient fluoride, be sure to let your Kirkwood Dental dentist know. Your dentist might recommend a routine fluoride treatment in Campbell, California. The procedure is quick and is performed at the end of your dental checkup.
Dr. Vinh T. Pham might also prescribe daily fluoride supplements such as sublingual tabs, gels, mouth rinse or a concentrated fluoride toothpaste to help you.
Ingested prescription fluoride supplements need to be taken at the prescribed time. Concentrated fluoride toothpaste or mouth rinse should be brushed onto your teeth or rinsed in your mouth right before going to bed. The goal is to apply them to your teeth at a time when you can avoid eating or drinking anything for up to an hour. This will allow the fluoride to deeply penetrate and fortify your tooth enamel.
If you are interested in prescription fluoride supplements, you can call Kirkwood Dental at 408-378-8500 to schedule an appointment.