Fluoride plays an essential role in the health of our teeth, strengthening our enamel and preventing tooth decay. Understanding the way that fluoride benefits you is an important part of maintaining optimal oral health. At the Norman, OK office of Dr. Bobby J. Carmen, our team helps patients keep their teeth strong and healthy with a variety of general dentistry services, including fluoride treatments when needed.

How Does Fluoride Affect Oral Health?

Fluoride can be found in a variety of ways, both naturally in the foods that you eat and in oral care products like toothpaste and mouthwashes. Your dentist can also apply fluoride to your teeth in order to further strengthen them. Fluoride diminishes plaque’s ability to form on the teeth, thereby reducing the patient’s risk of developing gum disease. Additionally, it actually promotes remineralization of the enamel, effectively reversing the earliest stages of tooth decay before cavities form.

While it is certainly most critical that patients between the ages of six months and 16 years receive a sufficient amount of fluoride to prevent serious decay, adults can definitely benefit from it as well. If your diet doesn’t include a lot of fluoride-rich foods, talk to Dr. Carmen about fluoride treatments.

Lifelong Dental Health

Whether you are the parent looking for the best ways to keep your child’s smile healthy and strong, or you’re an adult patient with questions about how fluoride may help protect your teeth, our team is here to help. Contact our office in Norman, OK today and schedule your appointment with Dr. Carmen and our caring, experienced staff. Our family-friendly dental practice happily welcomes patients from throughout the surrounding areas of Moore, the University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, Del City, and beyond. We look forward to partnering with you on your journey toward lifelong oral health and wellness!