One of the things our Marietta orthodontist encourages during treatment is using fluoride every day. It might be that we prescribe a gel to use at night before bed or recommend a milder over-the-counter rinse.
While fluoride — like calcium — is important for healthy teeth and bones, it’s even more crucial to use it during orthodontic therapy. Here are a few reasons why:
You might miss places when you’re brushing around braces.
Brushing around brackets and wires is easy for some people, but it’s still common to have spaces that go missed every now and then. If plaque sits on your teeth for too long, it will eventually lead to a cavity. Fluoride can help stop that and protect the areas that are harder to clean.
Fluoride remineralizes weak tooth enamel.
Once a tooth starts to demineralize — which is the first stage of decay — it’s possible to reverse the process with fluoride. Brushing and applying fluoride will strengthen and essentially “reverse” the cavity process before a physical hole forms in your tooth. It’s a great boost when you have extra spaces to clean around.
There are fewer surprises once your braces come off.
The more religiously you use concentrated fluoride, the less of a chance there is to have white spots or cavities on your teeth (at least if you’re brushing and flossing properly).
Which Fluoride Should I Use?
The best type of fluoride to use will depend on your risk factors, age, past dental history, and other factors. Chances are you’ll use a prescription fluoride while you’re wearing braces, but you can switch to an over-the-counter rinse once they come off.
For more information, contact East Cobb Orthodontics in Marietta.