While there are over-the-counter (OTC) fluoride treatments for adults and children, your dentist may suggest an in-office fluoride treatment. These include:
- Fluoride mouth rinses are a concentrated solution that you swish in your mouth and around your teeth as directed, typically once a day or weekly.
- Fluoride supplements are available as a tablet or lozenge and are consumed by chewing or sucking on the supplement before swallowing. Fluoride supplements may also be administered as a liquid, which you swish in your mouth before swallowing.
- Fluoride gel and/or foam are applied by your dentist and left on your teeth for several minutes before you can rinse.
- Fluoride varnish is an in-office treatment that is applied by brushing the fluoride on your teeth, where it will remain until it is absorbed by the teeth or brushed off after several hours.
Don’t Use Too Much Fluoride
Prescription or in-office dental fluoride treatments contain a higher concentration of fluoride than OTC treatments and toothpaste. They should never be used without supervision by your dentist.3