Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride is commonly called nature’s cavity fighter and there’s a good reason for this. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the entire tooth surface more resistant to acid attacks from the bacteria that live in the plaque on your teeth. Fluoride also promotes remineralization, which aids in repairing early decay before a cavity forms in the tooth. Here at the dental practice of Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS he can provide patients with fluoride treatments to help them protect their pearly whites.

Fluoride is found naturally in soil, water, foods, and several minerals. When present at the right level, fluoride in drinking water has two beneficial effects: preventing tooth decay and contributing to healthy bones. The type of fluoride we utilize at our office is called topical fluoride. Topical fluoride is applied directly to and absorbed by the surface of the teeth. It may be applied as a foam or gel after a professional cleaning and can additionally be found in personal oral hygiene products such as toothpaste and mouth rinses.

If you have questions about fluoride treatment, please give us a call. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.

Break Those Bad Oral Habits

If you avoid eating cold foods or drinking hot beverages because your teeth are a little tender, it may be time to reflect on your oral habits. If you have tooth sensitivity, Dr. Keith Rudolph may suggest dental sealants or fluoride treatments to decrease it. Sometimes the solution is simply breaking bad habits. If you catch yourself performing any of the following habits, do your best to break them.

• You’re brushing too hard – over time, if you brush with too much force, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubules are exposed, tooth sensitivity is a result.


• You’re eating too many acidic foods – If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods will leave you in pain.


• You have tooth decay – If you have tooth decay, it’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid build-up and enamel breakdown.


• You’re a tooth grinder – Grinding your teeth can wear down your enamel. This exposes the dentin and causes sensitive teeth.

If you have tender teeth, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533. 

Enamel Erosion and Fluoride

Tooth enamel is the semi-translucent, hard, outer layer of the teeth, and although it is the strongest substance in the human body, it is not impervious to everyday wear and tear or acid erosion. Tasked with protecting our teeth from the daily damage of biting and chewing, as well as from the temperature extremes of hot and cold foods, tooth enamel is important for keeping our teeth free of decay and pain. But if the enamel begins to erode, intervention is necessary for protecting your oral health.

Tooth enamel erosion can be caused by a number of factors, from drinking too many soft drinks or fruity juices to not cleaning your teeth often enough. Other contributing factors include eating lots of sour foods or candy, dry mouth, acid reflux disease, bulimia, teeth grinding, heaving drinking and even brushing teeth immediately after consuming acidic food or beverages. When the tooth enamel erodes, you may experience sensitive teeth, irregular or rough tooth edges, yellowed teeth and cupping or dents.

At our practice in Fairfield, CT, Dr. Keith Rudolph recommends fluoride treatment to strengthen teeth and prevent decay. Fluoride is a mineral found naturally in our water and many of our foods and can help remineralize tooth enamel that has eroded and protect it from acid in the future. Especially important to children between the ages of 6 and 16, fluoride treatment is a common part of dentistry. The mineral can be applied as a foam, gel or varnish and is a much stronger dose than found in toothpastes and mouthwashes.

To see if fluoride can help you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Rudolph by calling 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.