Regular dental examinations and cleanings, as well as brushing twice a day and flossing are important for keeping teeth healthy. Another key to good oral health is fluoride, a mineral which can help prevent carries and can repair teeth in the very early stages of the disease.

There are two ways to obtain fluoride: topical and systemic. Topical fluorides are applied directly to the tooth enamel like fluoride toothpastes, mouth rinses, and the fluoride treatments received in the dental office. Systemic fluorides such as fluoridated water and dietary supplements are those that are swallowed. The best results in reducing dental carries is achieved when the patient receives fluoride both topically and systemically. Professional fluoride treatments generally take just a few minutes and are a much stronger concentration than that in toothpastes or mouth rinses from the drug store.

So be sure to ask your dentist which fluoride treatments will help protect your dental health and provide the extra protection for your teeth.

“If the crack is small, let’s just leave it alone. It doesn’t hurt and is barely noticeable.” Many patients have uttered those words, only to be back with a big problem at the most inconvenient time. Even though the crack may be small or hardly noticeable it could be a ticking time bomb. Just like a small crack in your windshield that may radiate across at any time. A crack in a tooth may radiate through the nerve or the root, the tooth may need to be removed and replaced, like a car’s windshield. A crown will hold it together and freeze the cracks where they are, permanently. Investing in a crown when the crack is small will help prevent a broken tooth and just may be one of your wisest investments. After a crack has radiated through the nerve or roots, the tooth would require much more time and a lot more money.