For decades, fluoride has been held in high regard by the dental community as an essential mineral that is absorbed into and strengthens tooth enamel, thereby helping to prevent decay of tooth structures. It is a compound of fluorine, which you can find throughout nature in water, soil, air, and food. By adding  it into our drinking water, we can easily absorb it into tooth enamel, especially in children’s growing teeth, which helps to reduce tooth decay.

It strengthens the teeth once they erupt by seeping into the outer surface of the tooth enamel, making the teeth more resistant to decay. We gain it by using fluoride-containing dental products such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, and gels. Here at Handley Dental in Cypress, we generally recommend that children have a professional application twice a year during dental check-ups.

We apply it as a varnish during a dental appointment. We dry the teeth, so it doesn’t dilute. To strengthen them, Dr. Handley can paint the varnish directly on parts of the teeth that are most likely to get a cavity. This is an advantage of varnish over gel or foam. Varnish also contains a powerful concentration. Topical fluoride in Cypress comes in a variety of flavors, but you never swallow the fluoride.