Scientists have been studying fluoride since 1901. You’ve probably heard about the benefits of fluoride for teeth, but have you wondered, “How does fluoride protect teeth?”
Fluoride is often considered one of the most important preventative treatments in the fight against tooth decay. It is commonly found in toothpaste and mouthwashes, and for good reason. Read on to learn what is fluoride and how fluoride toothpaste works.
What Is Fluoride?
Many people think that fluoride is a complex chemical that was developed to protect enamel. Far from it. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is found widely around the world.
Fluoride’s oral health benefits were first noticed in the 1930s when researchers noticed that children who grew up consuming naturally fluoridated water had lower instances of tooth decay. They compared the oral health of those children with children who did not have access to fluoridated water.
How Does Fluoride Protect Teeth?
What does fluoride do? The benefits of fluoride, as it turns out, is that the mineral hardens enamel. This adds protection against tooth decay.
How Cavities Form
The bacteria in our mouths consume sugars. Through that process, the microbes release trace amounts of acids that slowly degrade the surrounding enamel, which is comprised of minerals.
Any treatment that hardens enamel prevents and even reverses tooth decay. Since tooth decay is progressive, preventing the demineralization of enamel is critical to preventing cavities or more serious oral health problems.
Fluoride is so effective, in fact, that the American Dental Association and the World Health Organization have endorsed fluoride in water supplies. The ADA calls fluoride “nature’s cavity fighter.”
Am I a Candidate for Fluoride?
Pretty much anyone is a candidate for the benefits of fluoride. Young children and pregnant women should only use fluoride products as directed by their dentists.
If you simply want to prevent cavities, you can try some of the fluoride products that are listed later in this article. Anyone who has a history of cavities should consider regularly using the enamel-protecting mineral. Diets that are high in sugar can also increase the risk of developing tooth decay.
There are several options for increasing the amount of fluoride protection for your teeth. Next, we’ll cover those options.
How Do I Make Fluoride a Part My Daily Oral Care?
If you are wondering how to get fluoride, one of the easiest ways is through quality toothpaste. Any fluoride toothpaste should disclose that it contains the enamel-hardening mineral. More than 95% of toothpaste products in the United States contain fluoride, according to the CDC.
Every time you brush, the mineral is naturally absorbed by your tooth enamel. Children 6 and under should only use fluoridated products with the permission of a dentist. You can couple the toothpaste with an electric toothbrush for even more cleaning power and oral health protection.
Fluoride Mouth Rinse
A fluoride mouth rinse can be used daily or once a week for extra enamel protection against plaque. If you need higher concentrations of fluoride, your dentist can prescribe highly fluoridated mouth rinses for you to use at home.
Tap Water
Around three-fourths of communities in the United States add fluoride to their drinking water supplies. The mineral has been safely added to drinking water supplies for more than 75 years.
If your city includes fluoride in its water system, then you can benefit from the enamel-hardening qualities of the mineral. Fluoridated water alone may not be enough to provide the level of protection that you are looking for, especially if you have a history or family history of cavities.
Fluoride Supplements
Fluoride supplements come in the form of tablets, liquids, or lozenges. Most of these products contain sodium fluoride as the main active ingredient.
Supplements are sometimes prescribed for teens who are at high risk for tooth decay, especially if their primary drinking water has low levels of fluoride.
The primary aim is not to consume the supplements. Users suck on the tablet or lozenges for one to two minutes to maximize the amount of time that the fluoride is in contact with the teeth.
If you think you or a family member could benefit from fluoride supplements, ask your dentist or physician for details.
Fluoride Gel or Foam
Allowing a dentist to apply fluoride gel or foam can significantly magnify the oral health benefits of fluoride. Due to the potency of fluoride foam and gel, it is typically prescribed by a dentist or physician.
Applying the gel at intervals of a few to several months poses little risk of leading to dental fluorosis, the condition that can leave white patches on teeth. For adults and minors who regularly consume fluoridated tap water, there is minimal need for fluoride foam or gel.
Another common dental office application of fluoride is called fluoride varnish. The varnish is basically painted onto teeth where it semi-hardens to form a soft shell of concentrated fluoride on the enamel. Fluoride varnish can only be applied by a dentist or health care provider.
Benefits of Combining Fluoride and Clear Aligners
Did you know that crooked teeth are harder to clean and care for? Using fluoride is a great way to prevent cavities, but you can further reduce your risk of tooth decay by using Alignerco’s cost-effective clear aligners. The orthodontic treatments do not require any visits to the dentist or orthodontist.
Learn More Oral Health Tips
What is fluoride? Fluoride is a safe and effective treatment option for preventing cavities or even reversing the early stages of tooth decay. Once a cavity forms, it will continue to grow until it is professionally treated and filled.
Now we’ve covered how fluoride toothpaste works and how does fluoride protect teeth. The next step is to find out which products can provide fluoride for teeth. A quality toothpaste is one easy way to enjoy the oral health benefits of fluoride protection.
While you are thinking about your oral health, consider making teeth-straightening part of your 2022 plan to take better care of your smile. Take the first step by trying our free online smile assessment.
The benefits of undergoing teeth straightening using clear aligners can be life-changing. A beautiful smile can boost your self-esteem, and it can even help your professional career. But are invisible aligners cheap?
Many of the so-called “cheapest teeth aligners” can still set you back several thousand dollars or more. Before you give up hope on being able to afford orthodontic treatment, we’ll explore how ALIGNERCO can deliver a beautiful new smile at a fraction of the cost of our competitors.
Why Americans of All Ages are Shifting to Clear Aligners
Clear aligners have made orthodontic treatments more affordable and accessible than ever. For decades, the only option for straightening teeth was metal braces. Traditional braces were effective, but they also were bulky, uncomfortable, and difficult to clean.
Metal braces are inherently expensive due to the extensive metal attachments and wires that dentists have to put on teeth. Prices vary by city, but you can expect to spend around $7,000 to $10,000 for metal braces. Clear aligner treatment will set you back an average of $7,400.
If you are shopping around for the cheapest invisible braces, you may be disappointed to learn that most clear aligners cost several thousand dollars. While many brands promise inexpensive clear braces, only ALIGNERCO delivers on providing cost-effective solutions.
ALIGNERCO’s clear braces are affordable while still delivering the same predictable cosmetic results as other brands. Here’s how our treatments work.
Enjoy Quality Braces at an Affordable Rate
ALIGNERCO was founded in 2019 with the mission of providing high-quality braces at an affordable price. One way that ALIGNERCO is able to drastically cut down on treatment prices is by eliminating the need to visit a dentist or orthodontist.In-office aligner treatment, for example, is only available for patients who work directly with a dentist or orthodontist.
Requiring visits to dentists and orthodontists for teeth-straightening treatments drastically increases the overall cost of orthodontic treatments. In the United States, dentists earn nearly $90/hr, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those and other cost factors have to be factored into clear braces costs.
The ALIGNERCO Difference
ALIGNERCO works differently. Our customers can order an impression kit that is mailed directly to your home. Once you make a dental impression, simply mail the kit back to one of our offices. From there, one of our team members will customize a treatment plan that helps you meet your cosmetic goals.
At no point will you have to schedule an appointment with a dentist or orthodontist. Our unique approach to teeth straightening saves you time and money.
While treatment plans from other clear aligner companies can cost several thousand dollars, ALIGNERCO’s plans are offered at a fraction of that price.
Our SmileAdvantage plan, for example, is $895. (Follow our website for discount codes.)
The plan can be paid for with a one-time payment that includes:
- An impression kit
- Smile Projection
- Aligners
- Retainers
- Free shipping (within the USA)
You can expect the same cosmetic results that other companies offer. Our high-quality clear braces are safe and effective.
Other Cost-Saving Factors
To provide the most affordable teeth aligners, ALIGNERCO offers several cost-saving options for our valued customers. If you have specific questions about discounts, give us a call at +1 (877) 271-7417.
Payment Plans
Payment plans allow you to divide our already affordable treatment costs into small monthly payments. SmileFlex is $73 a month.
After 12 monthly installment payments, your treatment will be completely paid off. The flexible payment plan option even comes with a free teeth whitening kit!
SmileFlex Easy allows our customers to make 11 easy payments of $175 after an initial $275 down payment. There is no credit check required and no forms to fill. The payment plan even includes free shipping within the United States.
Discount Codes
Visit our website for regular discounts. Our rotating promotional codes can save you $250 or more.
Active and Retired Military Discounts
We are grateful for the service of our armed forces. Active members of the military and veterans can reduce their treatment costs by $50 through our military discount.
FSA and HSA Accounts
Health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA) are special savings accounts that the IRS allows certain individuals to access without tax penalties. Each ALIGNERCO plan can be paid for using either a HSA or FSA.
Since orthodontic treatments can be considered medically necessary, many HSA or FSA accounts can be used to cover the cost of these treatments. If your account doesn’t cover the full amount of treatment, simply pay the difference using a payment option of your choice. We accept all major credit cards.
Take Our Risk-Free Dental Assessment
If you still aren’t sure if you can afford to begin one of our treatment plans, try taking our free dental assessment. After answering several questions, you’ll know whether you are a good candidate for ALIGNERCO’s treatment plans.
You can also create a dental impression that allows our team to show you what your smile will look like once you undergo treatment using our custom clear aligners.
Take the First Step Toward a Beautiful Smile
A beautiful smile allows you to make a great first impression. ALIGNERCO’s approach to teeth-straightening allows customers to save thousands of dollars while undergoing the same quality treatment offered by dentists and orthodontists.
Take the first step today by completing our free online assessment. When you do begin using our clear aligners, you will do so knowing that you are working with a company that offers high-quality treatments at an affordable price.
