You can increase the fluoride intake in your kids either naturally or by getting regular fluoride treatment at the pediatric dental clinic near you. Fluoride treatment near you is a minimally invasive and safe way to prevent tooth decay and make teeth stronger in children.

The professional uses trays, a brush, or a swab to apply the highly concentrated fluoride to the kid’s teeth. The pediatric dentist near you will offer aftercare tips to ensure a good outcome and that fluoride fully penetrates the enamel. The professional recommends not drinking, eating, or smoking for half an hour to one hour after the fluoride application.

What is a Fluoride Treatment? How Does it Work?

A fluoride treatment is when the dentist uses a topical fluoride on the teeth. The process is fast and safe for kids.

• Firstly, the pediatric dentist at Urbach Pediatric Dentistry will conduct a dental cleaning.
• Next, the expert paints the fluoride varnish onto the teeth.
• The dentist gives some time for the varnish to get hard while it comes in touch with the saliva.
• The pediatric dentist asks your child to wait nearly 30 minutes before eating something. Also, he/she recommends waiting at least 6 hours before brushing your teeth.

If your kid has a high risk of tooth decay, we recommend receiving fluoride treatment twice a year. ADA recommends visiting a pediatric dental clinic at the age of 1. As a parent, you must continue the fluoride treatment until age 16.

Guidelines to Follow After Fluoride Treatment

Below are the post-treatment tips to follow to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment:

Refrain from Store-bought Fluoride Products

Store-bought products such as mouth rinses, toothpaste, and mouthwashes are not immediately effective after the fluoride application. Therefore, avoid this after 3 to 4 days of treatment.

Watch What You Eat

The dentist recommends patients a 30-minute window for the fluoride treatment to seal the teeth. Also, gums and teeth are extra sensitive. Below is the list of foods and beverages to avoid:

• Extremely cold, frozen, or hot drinks and foods.
• Sugar-based drinks.
• Foods that are high in acidity.
• Hard textured or crunchy foods.
• Spicy foods.

Below is the list of foods to prefer after the fluoride application:

• Liquid foods.
• Soups.
• Soft foods such as mashed potatoes, apple sauce, bananas, etc.
• Hard-boiled eggs.

Remember, you must give your teeth sufficient time to absorb the fluoride before indulging in any food or drink.

Avoid Flossing and Brushing

Immediately after the treatment, you must avoid flossing and brushing. But you can do this after the 6 hours window to eliminate the leftover traces of fluoride varnish.

Quit Alcohol or Foods That Contains Alcohol

After receiving fluoride treatment at the pediatric dental office, you must avoid alcohol, products containing it, or alcohol-based foods/drinks.

See the Pediatric Professional Regularly

After the treatment, visiting the pediatric dentist at least once a year is essential. He/she will recommend more tips to care for your kid’s mouth.

Avoid Using Prescription Fluoride Medicines

Don’t use prescription-fluoride medicine for a few days after the fluoride application.

Why is Fluoride Essential?

When kids have something, the bacteria in the mouth feed on sugars and starches, and the bacteria release acids that cause enamel erosion. When this happens, it leads to dental caries and tooth decay.

Below are the advantages of fluoride:

• It restores minerals to the tooth enamel after the acids strip them.
• It reverses early tooth decay and prevents the further development of cavities.
• Fluoride enhances the strength of enamel by making it more resistant to acid attacks.

If the pediatric dentist still finds baby teeth in your younger child, he/she includes fluoride in the developing permanent teeth. When they develop, permanent teeth are at less risk of cavities.

Minimizing Tooth Sensitivity After Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride varnish serves as a durable mechanical barrier to stimuli. It prevents the movement of fluid in dentinal tubules. It prevents chronic pain from dentin hypersensitivity. Tooth sensitivity is a painful condition that makes it tough to enjoy the pleasures of life. How often your kid gets supplementary fluoride treatments in Houston, TX, to minimize tooth sensitivity depends on the mouth condition and the severity of symptoms.