Fluoride Treatments in Pine Beach, NJ
Dr. Mariya Medlenov provides fluoride treatments for patients to combat periodontal disease, or gum disease. Your gums are just as important as your teeth, and our dentist can ensure that your gum health is taken care of by suggesting fluoride treatments to take at home. If you would like to receive fluoride treatments in Pine Beach, New Jersey, at Century Dental East, call 732-341-6010 to schedule an appointment!
Fluoride is a mineral that is naturally found in water and many foods. While you receive a certain amount of fluoride from your diet and from using toothpaste with fluoride, we may recommend fluoride treatment to further strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities.
Fluoride helps to strengthen your teeth and protect them from tooth decay. As you eat and drink throughout the day, bacteria, sugars and acids constantly attack and demineralize the enamel of your teeth. Fluoride works to remineralize tooth enamel, preventing tooth decay and cavities. In addition, fluoride can strengthen teeth as they develop to make sure they are strong and healthy. This makes fluoride very important for children as their teeth grow in.
Our dentist and team members may recommend professional fluoride treatment during your regular dental checkup. We may suggest further fluoride treatment if your teeth are prone to decay or if you are not receiving a sufficient amount of fluoride from other sources. Professional fluoride is available in the form of a gel, varnish or foam. Fluoride treatment is just one of the ways our team helps you keep your smile healthy for a lifetime.
For more information about preventive dentistry and the benefits of fluoride, we welcome you to contact us today. We are eager to care for your smile!
What Happens During a Fluoride Treatment
It is one of the quickest things we do, and it is usually added to the end of a routine visit.
The appointment itself
The teeth are dried, and the fluoride is applied directly to the tooth surfaces. Varnish is painted on with a small brush and sets on contact, so there is no tray and nothing to hold in your mouth. Gel or foam is placed in a soft tray that rests over the teeth for a short time. There are no injections and nothing to recover from afterward.
Afterward
If varnish was used, it leaves a temporary film on the teeth that may feel slightly rough or look faintly dull for the rest of the day. That is expected. We will tell you how long to wait before eating and drinking, and we usually ask that you avoid hot drinks, crunchy foods and alcohol-containing mouthwash for the rest of the day, then brush as normal the following morning. Following those instructions gives the fluoride the best chance to work on the enamel.
Who Benefits Most from Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is often thought of as something for children, but adults at higher risk of decay benefit from it too.
Reasons we may recommend it
We look at your individual risk rather than applying a blanket rule.
Dry mouth. Saliva neutralizes acid and carries minerals back to the enamel. Many common medications reduce saliva flow, which raises decay risk substantially.
A recent run of cavities. If you have needed several fillings in a short period, strengthening the enamel is part of breaking that pattern.
Exposed root surfaces. Where gums have receded, the exposed root is softer than enamel and decays more readily.
Braces or other appliances. Brackets and wires create places that are difficult to keep clean.
Crowns, bridges and large restorations. Decay can start at the margins where a restoration meets the tooth.
Children with developing teeth. Newly erupted molars are especially vulnerable in their first years in the mouth.
Fluoride and sealants together
Fluoride strengthens the whole tooth surface, while dental sealants physically seal the deep grooves of the back teeth where a brush cannot reach. For children at higher risk, the two are often used alongside each other.
Fluoride at Home and Fluoride in the Office
The two work in different ways, and most patients need both.
Daily protection
Fluoride toothpaste used twice a day is the foundation. A useful habit is to spit after brushing rather than rinsing with water, so the fluoride stays in contact with the teeth for longer. For patients at higher risk, we may also suggest a fluoride mouth rinse or a higher-strength toothpaste used at home.
Professional application
The fluoride applied in the office is more concentrated than anything available over the counter and stays in contact with the enamel in a way daily products cannot match. It is a periodic top-up, not a replacement for brushing.
Fluoride and children
Young children should use only a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, sized appropriately for their age, and be supervised while brushing so they learn to spit rather than swallow. If you are unsure how much is right for your child, ask us at their next visit and we will show you. You can see the rest of our preventive care on the general and family dentistry page.
Fluoride Treatment in Pine Beach and Ocean County
Century Dental East treats families from Pine Beach and the surrounding Ocean County towns at 241 Washington Avenue. Fluoride treatment is most often provided at the same appointment as your dental cleaning, so it does not usually mean an extra trip.
If you are not sure whether you or your child would benefit, Dr. Mariya Medlenov can assess your decay risk at your next visit and give you a straight answer either way.
Call (732) 341-6010 to book, or reach us through our contact page.
Visit Our Pine Beach Office
Century Dental East — Gentle, Modern Dentistry for Families in Pine Beach, NJ.
241 Washington Avenue, Pine Beach, NJ 08741
(732) 341-6010
Hours
Mon 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tue 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Wed 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thu 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun Closed
Serving patients across
- Toms River
- Lakewood
- Lakehurst
- Forked River
- Bayville
- Beachwood
- Pine Beach
- Barnegat Light
- Ocean Gate
- Maple Shade
- Leisure Village
- Cedar Grove
- Waretown
- Howardsville
- Brookville
- Holly Park
- South Toms River