Fluoride is simply a mineral that contributes to oral health by making teeth more resistant to acid produced by bacteria that can cause tooth decay. It helps promote remineralization of tooth enamel in people of all ages.
If you are prone to getting cavities or are experiencing sensitivity in your teeth, your dentist may recommend for you to have fluoride treatments at the time of your professional dental cleaning or they may prescribe a prescription fluoride rinse/paste/gel for you to use at home. Patients with dry mouth syndrome, gum recession, diabetes or other health issues that affect their dental health should be receiving fluoride treatment.
Application of fluoride is not like it used to be. We no longer use the horrible tasting gel that was put into trays and left in your mouth for 5 minutes, making you feel sick and gag. We use a pleasant tasting gel that is applied to your teeth with a cotton swab (Q-tip) and left on your teeth for only one minute.
Call us to learn about our practice and how we integrate this into our dental care. We happily serve Birmingham, Roebuck, Huffman, Center Point, Tarrant, Trussville, Pinson, Leeds, Moody, Irondale, Fultondale, Pell City, Gardendale and many more surrounding communities.
Sources: http://www.ada.org/sections/scienceAndResearch/pdfs/patient_72.pdf