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Parkcrest Dental Group Explains How Fluoride Fights Cavities

  • October 13, 2020
  • 6:45 am
  • Dental Education
  • Cavities, Oral Hygiene, Parkcrest Dental Group

Mother teaching daughter to brush with fluoride toothpaste

Fluoride is a mineral which is often added to drinking water and oral hygiene products with the claim that it helps protect teeth from cavities. You’ve probably seen it mentioned on your toothpaste or mouthwash label.

But how does it really work? Does drinking fluoridated water protect your teeth from cavities just like the packages say? In this blog, we take a look at the actual process by which fluoridated water and oral hygiene products are able to strengthen your teeth and protect them from damage.

The Science of Fluoride

The enamel which acts as the protective coating on your teeth is composed of calcium and phosphate ions. Ions are any particle carrying an electrical charge, much like the “positive” and “negative” ends of a magnet. The calcium ions carry a positive charge, and the phosphate ions a negative charge.

When the fluoride, which also carries a negative charge, washes over the positively charged calcium ions, it forms a chemical bond that pulls together multiple calcium ions. This tightens the shield of your enamel and strengthens it against corrosive acids and sugars that we know to cause cavities.

 

Studies show that the fluoride which binds to the calcium in your enamel only penetrates at a surface level. For the best protection over the long term, continue using fluoridated products regularly to renew your enamel and maintain its strength.

Signs You Need More Fluoride

It shouldn’t take a full-blown cavity for you to recognize that you need to protect your teeth. If you experience sensitivity, such as a shooting pain or tingling sensation when consuming hot or cold foods, or pain when consuming sweet or sour foods, then your enamel may need some assistance.

Seek out fluoridated products such as toothpaste and mouthwash at the store, or ask your dentist for product recommendations.

For the Serious Stuff, Call Parkcrest Dental Group

While fluoride is great for protecting teeth, it’s not a cure-all for oral hygiene problems. If you experience tooth sensitivity, pain, tingling, numbness, or bleeding after trying every product on the shelf, you probably need a professional assessment. Trust the team at Parkcrest Dental Group to help you get your smile back. Schedule an appointment today!

Meet Some Dentists in Springfield, MO

Some of the doctors at Parkcrest Dental Group

Dr. Stuart Scott (top left) is our pediatric dentist. He earned his degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry before completing a two-year residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Dr. Steven Harrison (top center) is board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Harrison, our orthodontist, graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. He’s been with Parkcrest Dental Group since 1986.

Dr. Chanin Ropka (top right) attended UMKC before joining the United States Navy, where she served as the only dentist on board the USS Germantown and at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. Dr. Ropka began at Parkcrest Dental in 2001.

Dr. Daniel Fannin (bottom left) graduated from UMKC School of Dentistry in 1997. He completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency in 1998 before joining Parkcrest Dental Group that same year.

Dr. Steven C. Sponenberg (bottom center) has been a Springfieldian his entire life. He graduated from Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2004 before joining Parkcrest Dental Group immediately after.

Dr. Jason Hall (bottom right) is also a native Springfieldian. He earned his DDS from the University of Missouri at Kansas City Dental School in 1997. He came to Parkcrest Dental Group in 2010. Dr. Hall’s father, Stan, is also a dentist.

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