At our dental practice, Dr. Rick Jackomis and our dedicated team work hard to help our patients in Sterling, Virginia achieve excellent oral health. We also strive to help you learn the best ways to protect and maintain your smile. Today, we want to discuss the importance of fluoride when it comes to protecting your pearly whites.

Why Fluoride?

Because dental caries (cavities) are the most common disease in both adults and children around the globe and fluoride is one of the most effective ways to prevent cavities. Fluoride makes your teeth stronger and more resistant to the harmful effects of acid. This acid results from bacteria in the mouth feeding off sugars from the food and drinks we consume, and this acid wears down tooth enamel.

Tap Water Beats Bottled Water

Although all water beats soda, sports drinks, and even sweetened fruit juice when it comes to hydrating without contributing to cavities, most bottled water doesn’t have fluoride in it. Tap water which has added fluoride in the water supply contains just the right amount, thanks to the standards set by the EPA. Essentially, drinking water with fluoride helps keep cavities at bay before they start.

Other sources of fluoride include toothpaste (use the recommended amount and spit it out when done), and your dentist’s fluoride treatment, which is a thin layer of varnish applied to your teeth.

Fun Fact

Thanks to fluoride’s proven track record of preventing cavities, fluoride in tap water was lauded as a top public health achievement in the 20th century, in the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Ten Great Public Health Achievements in the 20th Century.

As you can see, fluoride is essential to your healthy smile. If you want to learn more about how fluoride helps your teeth stay strong, we invite you to call us at 703-444-9244 today. A fluoride treatment is just one of the ways our dentist helps you keep your smile healthy for a lifetime. Dr. Rick Jackomis and our team in Sterling, Virginia look forward to helping you achieve the healthy smile you deserve!