We all know how fluoride is helpful for the health of our teeth. It strengthens the enamel and reduces the risk of decay. While the more popular ways of getting fluoride are drinking water and using fluoride toothpaste, one of the popular ways of getting fluoride these days is applying it directly especially in children, says dentist in Gilbert.
However, the pertinent question is whether the topical fluoride is worth the efforts and expense and does it have nay side effects. According to dentist near Gilbert, AZ, the researchers have performed studies for finding the effectiveness of fluoride in preventing tooth decay. The studies show that there is 28% reduction in the tooth decay for patients that received topical fluoride as compared to those who didn’t.
This holds true especially for children as they are more vulnerable to tooth decay. Direct application of fluoride gels, foams, and varnishes on teeth reduces the risk of decaying. However, according to dentist in 85224, there are side effects of this application also. Fluoride has only one concern which is a condition known as fluorosis. Too much fluoride can lead to massive discoloration of the teeth. This does not affect the health of teeth but impacts its appearance and make them look unattractive and you may need cosmetic dental procedures for reducing its effects.
There’s minimal to no risk during the fluoride treatment performed by the dentist. The fluoride solution remains on teeth for more than a few minutes. But there can be some side effects during the treatment if the patient accidentally swallows some of the solution. The side effects include stomach upset, vomiting, or headaches.
However, for minimizing the chances of such hazards, the dentists use varnish foam of topical fluoride that is more difficult to swallow along with using trays and barrier devices for isolating the fluoride solution from rest of the mouth.
The risks associated with the treatment are less as compared to the benefits associated with the treatment and it’s one of the ways for protecting your child’s teeth in the long run.
