February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The National Children’s Dental Health Month is a…
Why You Need Fluoride Treatments
Everyone knows the importance of regular dental hygiene practices. Brushing twice a day, flossing on a daily basis, and going to the dentist for a regular checkup and cleaning should be part of every person’s routine. But there’s more that you can do—and more that you really should be doing—in order to make sure your smile stays happy and healthy.
One thing you should be doing is getting fluoride treatments. Here at Cooper Family Dentistry, we care about our patients, and that means educating them. We’ve put together this piece to help you understand just what a fluoride treatment is—and why you should be getting them. Please take a few moments to read this, and don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions.
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is an element that helps keep your teeth strong and healthy. As you go through your daily life, your teeth can wear down. Whether it’s from excessive acid in the foods you eat, the wear and tear of chewing, or other things, over time the tooth can weaken.
The good news is that the tooth can replenish itself. It does this by absorbing certain elements from the foods you eat and using those elements to replace enamel and other substances that wear down. One such element is fluoride.
Fluoride exposure gives your teeth the materials they need to strengthen themselves and repair weakening spots. Many communities add fluoride to their drinking water, and it is included in many toothpastes; however, this is not enough. You need a regular fluoride treatment in order to keep your teeth strong and healthy.
Why Do You Need a Fluoride Treatment?
Simply put, the water that you drink doesn’t stay in your mouth for very long. Even if it is fluoridated—and not all communities have fluoridated water—it will not be in contact with your teeth long enough for them to fully absorb all the fluoride they need. It’s better than nothing, to be sure, but it’s not enough.
When you come to Cooper Family Dentistry for a fluoride treatment, we use a special gel containing concentrated fluoride (and other elements). We put it in a tray and place it against your teeth. We keep it there long enough for the absorption process to run its course. This leaves your teeth in far better shape than they would be in from simply drinking fluoridated water.
We can help keep your teeth healthy. Contact us today about a fluoride treatment!
Dr. Jordan Cooper is from Jacksonville, AR. His father is Dr. James Cooper, a Jonesboro, AR native and practicing dentist of 39 years and his mother, Tracy Cooper, is a dental hygienist from Little Rock. Dr. Cooper graduated high school from Central Arkansas Christian, after which he entered at the University of Arkansas as a Chancellor’s Scholar in 1998.
Dr. David Cole is a graduate from the University of Arkansas, receiving his degree in 2016, and is a huge Razorback fan! He then went to dental school at the University of Tennessee where he received his D.D.S. in 2021. He looks forward to getting to know the Central Arkansas area, and serving his community!
Dr. Rasmussen is a Hot Springs native who graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2017 (Go Bears). After receiving his D.D.S from The University of Tennessee in 2021, he is looking forward to serving the central Arkansas community and the wonderful people who live here.
Dr. James Cooper was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He studied at the University of New Mexico and graduated from dental school from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. After 2 years of dental experience with the Army, Dr. Cooper moved to Jacksonville in 1973 to practice dentistry.