Many communities add a small amount of fluoride to their water in order to help the local population strengthen their teeth. Fluoride occurs naturally in many foods as well, including pickles, grape juice, spinach & tomatoes. Fluoride is also an ingredient in most toothpastes & some mouthwashes.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that has been shown to both prevent tooth decay & even reverse it in the early stages. Fluoride acts by strengthening your enamel, which is the hard shiny outer layer of your teeth that protects the softer, more vulnerable dentin beneath. Fluoride can re-mineralize tiny micro-cavities before they have the chance to grow into larger cavities & cause problems.
We Offer Fluoride Treatments
At our office, we offer professional fluoride treatments for children, who are often at higher risk for cavities as their teeth grow & develop & they learn good oral hygiene habits. We recommend fluoride as a preventive treatment for children. Fluoride treatments are usually done at six-month cleaning appointments. Treatment involves the dentist applying varnish to your teeth using a gel, foam, or a rinse. We may also recommend fluoride treatments for adults who are at high risk of tooth decay.
And of course, we always recommend that you use a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
Bio coming soon.
Dr. Owen Chan is a general dentist at Anytime Dental Care, where he provides emergency & comprehensive dental care to patients throughout the Bay Area. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of the Pacific in 2024 & spent two years developing his clinical skills at a well-known public health clinic in Berkeley. There, he developed a strong commitment to accessible, patient-centered care.
Born & raised in Los Angeles, Dr. Cristina Corral combines a rigorous, research-backed academic foundation with a compassionate, patient-centered approach to oral health. She earned her B.S. in general biology from UC San Diego, contributed to medical research at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital & received her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the top-tier UCSF School of Dentistry.