Fluoride Treatment for Kids: What Parents Need to Know?

When your child’s first tooth erupts, their pediatrician will talk to you about the importance of healthy teeth and gums for your child’s overall health. The appearance of the first tooth will bring recommendations from the pediatrician to see the pediatric dentist, Houston, that your child must receive a fluoride treatment to strengthen their tooth enamel and help prevent tooth decay.

Fluoride treatments for kids are recommended two to four every year, depending on how likely your child will get cavities. The Houston pediatric dentist and their staff will determine how many treatments are needed after examining your child and asking and the child some questions.

Why Does Your Child Need Fluoride Treatments?

Fluoride treatment near you for your kid as a dental treatment has many benefits. Fluoride can prevent tooth decay, slow it or even stop it from worsening. Fluoride, a fundamental mineral, helps strengthen tooth enamel on the outer surface of the teeth. Parents will help themselves by understanding fluoride treatments do not entirely prevent cavities. However, they help place a barrier on the tooth surface to prevent decay when children brush using a suitable amount of fluoride toothpaste, floss regularly, and get six-monthly dental exams and cleanings from their dentist. Children must also have a healthy diet to ensure they benefit from fluoride treatments.

Is Fluoride Treatment for Kids Safe?

People think about fluoride in different ways. However, when used correctly and delivered by the dentist providing fluoride treatment Houston, the therapy is safe as it has been globally in preventing tooth decay in children. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in water and foods. Research in 1939 confirms the people growing up drinking fluoridated water develop 66 percent fewer cavities than people not drinking fluoridated water. The CDC also confirms fluoridated water has reduced tooth decay by approximately 25 percent.

In America, fluoride is added to tap water for drinking and toothpaste for children and adults. However, in some areas, fluoridated water is not available in the community water supply, resulting in higher incidences of tooth decay in children. In such cases, parents must request the child’s pediatric dentist for advice on whether their child can receive in-office fluoride treatments or fluoride supplements purchased over-the-counter.

The optimal option is to get fluoride treatments for kids at the dentist’s office because dental professionals use a tiny amount of fluoride to ensure your child doesn’t swallow it. The dentist applies the fluoride quickly and comfortably if your child is crying because children have an open mouth when creating a stir. The fluoride hardens rapidly, and you can brush it off after four to 12 hours.

How to Care for Your Child’s Teeth after Receiving Fluoride Treatment?

You don’t need to follow any particular guidelines for your child’s teeth after receiving fluoride treatment. Your kid can start eating or drinking soon after the application of fluoride. However, you must restrict them to soft foods and cold or lukewarm foods without giving them scorching foods and liquids. Brushing the child’s teeth for at least four to six hours is prohibited by dentists. Some children may receive recommendations not to brush or floss until the following day. It is essential to remember you must ask your kid to spit when rinsing if they know how to.

Precautions When Receiving kids Fluoride Treatments

When considering fluoride treatments for kids, parents must understand some brands of fluoride can make the child’s teeth appear dull. However, there is no reason for panic because the color of the child’s teeth returns to normal after brushing their teeth. Fluoride is painted on the top and sides of each tooth with a tiny brush, and the treatment has a sticky texture. However, it hardens quickly when it contacts the child’s mouth saliva. The child will likely feel the hardened varnish with their tongue but will not lick off the fluoride.

There are various reasons to consider getting fluoride treatment for your kid. Still, the primary one is that the treatment is an effective technique of preventing tooth decay and maintaining excellent dental health in your child. Fluoride treatments, when combined with dental sealants, reduce the chances of cavities in children’s teeth by approximately 95 percent. In addition, fluoride functions as a shield for the outer enamel and retain the ability to reverse early dental decay in some cases.

If you want to learn more about fluoride treatments and their benefits for your kids, we recommend you visit Molar Bear Pediatric Dentistry with your kids for the treatment and get help from cavity-free teeth.