Fluoride Treatment For Baby Teeth: Importance For Lifelong Dental Health
It’s an exciting milestone watching your kid’s first baby tooth. Most babies will begin getting their teeth at around six months, while others do as early as three months. Unfortunately, dental cavities can develop as soon as your child has their baby teeth. And most of us don’t find it essential to care for baby teeth as they eventually fall off. However, baby teeth are the foundation of healthy permanent teeth development. Do you need to learn how to protect your child’s first teeth? Our pediatric dentist in Bloomfield, CT, states that there are numerous ways to do so, one being topical fluoride treatment.
What is Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a natural mineral that contributes to the development of strong teeth and prevents tooth decay. Your child can get fluoride from their diet, toothpaste, mouthwash, and tap water. At Bloomfield Pediatric Dentistry, we recommend parents use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain when brushing their children’s teeth. The amount can later be increased when your kid is between the ages of three and six.
If the water your kid is taking doesn’t contain traces of fluoride, talk to your child’s dentist about it. They will assess their intake of fluoride and may subscribe to fluoride supplements if needed. And yes, your child will still require dental fluoride treatments even if they get the fluoride somewhere else. This is because a lack of enough fluoride will put them at risk of tooth decay. Professional fluoride treatment is more concentrated compared to the little ones’ toothpaste.
How Safe is Fluoride Treatment
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), your child should start having fluoride treatment as soon as their teeth erupt. The treatment should be done after every three or six months, depending on your child’s risk of developing dental cavities. Fluoride treatment near you can be performed professionally by a dentist or at the pediatrician’s office.
The procedure takes a few minutes to brush the varnish on the teeth, which will harden immediately. This allows the child to feel the varnish with their tongue but not lick it. The procedure is painless, although you may be asked to hold the child on your lap to prevent them from moving around. After the treatment, your child can eat soft foods and cold or warm drinks. Brush or floss their teeth at least four to six hours after the treatment.
Importance of Fluoride Treatment on Baby Teeth
When your baby eats or drinks, the bacteria in their mouth feed on sugars and starches and release acids that attack the protective layer of the teeth. The teeth will develop decay or cavities when the acid breaks down the enamel. A fluoride treatment in Bloomfield, CT, is used for preventive dental care. The fluoride is applied to enhance the remineralization of the enamel and inhibit bacterial metabolism reducing the growth of plaque bacteria. Fluoride treatment can be delivered through mouth rinses, gels, toothpaste, or a professional fluoride application. Here are the benefits of fluoride treatment on baby teeth.
Preserves the Primary Teeth
Although the first set of teeth on your bay will eventually be lost and replaced with permanent teeth, they must remain in place until it occurs naturally. Baby teeth lost because of teeth decay can cause the permanent teeth to be crowded or overlap once they start erupting. Fluoride treatment will help strengthen the tooth enamel making them resistant to decay. Ultimately this ensures that the primary teeth are preserved and prevent premature tooth loss.
Bacteria Regulation
Naturally, different types of bacteria circulate in your child’s mouth. Some of these bacteria are beneficial; however, too many of them can cause baby teeth decay and gum infections. Fluoride treatments help regulate the number of bacteria in your kid’s mouth, which decreases the risk of cavities and decay.
Strengthen the Enamel
Demineralization is the first step of cavity formation in baby teeth. It happens when acids from the bacteria start to weaken the tooth enamel. Fluoride can prevent demineralization and encourage the tooth to remineralize by enabling the enamel to absorb phosphate and calcium. It also repairs the weakened area of the enamel.