Your tooth enamel gets its amazing strength from densely packed microscopic mineral crystals. This is what gives your teeth the strength and durability to bite, chew and grind hard foods. The density of the minerals prevents bacteria from exploiting the microscopic surfaces to form cavities.
At the same time, it is possible for the acidic foods and beverages you consume throughout the day to deplete a minute amount of these minerals. This process, known as demineralization, creates porous areas in the tooth enamel that bacteria can exploit to establish an area of tooth decay.
Long-standing research has found that exposing your teeth to fluoride helps restore the mineral structures of tooth enamel on a microscopic level. This effectively reverses demineralization in a process known as remineralization.
If you’ve had issues with sensitivity and tooth decay or if you aren’t getting adequate fluoride in an average day, your dentist, Dr. Nieku Manshadi, might recommend administering a basic fluoride treatment. This will effectively restore the mineral density of your tooth enamel.
To administer the fluoride treatment, your dentist will pour a small amount of concentrated fluoride gel into trays that are held in your mouth for a few minutes. Afterward, you should avoid eating or drinking anything for up to an hour to allow the fluoride to deeply penetrate the tooth enamel.
If you are concerned about the strength of your tooth enamel, you should call LOL Dental at 936.544.0052 to schedule a checkup with a fluoride treatment in Crockett, Texas.