Tooth decay is a serious oral health issue and one that could lead to painful toothaches and infection without treatment. But what if areas of your enamel have weakened, but not become cavities yet? In today’s blog, your Celina, TX, dentist explains how we can help with Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF).
How Cavities Form in a Tooth
The outer enamel that coats your teeth is the hardest substance in the human body, and helps safeguard your sensitive inner structures against the onset of cavities. However, factors like plaque and tartar buildup from poor brushing and flossing habits and a diet high in sugar and starch, could weaken and erode the outer enamel. Tooth decay then forms and without treatment, could become infections that threaten smile stability and cause discomfort. But we can help with SDF!
Help With SDF
If we find an area of weakened enamel, also known as demineralization, then we can offer treatment to help halt the rate of decay and prevent a cavity from forming, and prevent the need for a filing. The material is applied to the teeth in a few seconds, and this helps strengthen the area in a matter of minutes. We usually reserve this for the side and rear teeth, as the area will darken a bit as the SDF material cures in the weakened areas. This can be helpful for patients of all ages, from babies and toddlers to kids, teens, and adults. If you have a toothache, don’t delay, come see our team right away for an exam and to see if you need treatment.
Preventing Cavities
Our team could also discuss other ways of preventing cavities. For example, you should see our team for a checkup and cleaning every six months, so we can monitor your smile and catch decay in the earliest stages of demineralization. We will also clean the teeth in the same visit to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, which limits the risk of not only cavities, but periodontal issues too. At home, you should take time to brush for two minutes when you wake up and then again before bed, using a fluoride toothpaste each time to keep enamel strong. You also need to floss every evening before you go to bed to remove what a toothbrush alone cannot.
If you have any questions about how we protect smiles with SDF, or if you would like to schedule your first visit of 2025, then contact our team today to learn more.
Schedule Your Next Preventive Visit
We want to help you avoid painful tooth decay and enjoy better oral health. To learn more about our approach to family dentistry, call Celina Family Dentistry in Celina, TX, today at 214-851-0130.
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