Fluoride Benefits

If left untreated, pulp infection can lead to abscess, destruction of bone, and systemic infection (Cawson et al. 1982; USDHHS 2000). Various sources have concluded that water fluoridation has been an effective method for preventing dental decay (Newbrun 1989; Ripa 1993; Horowitz 1996; CDC 2001; Truman et al. 2002). Water fluoridation is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of the 10 great public health achievements in the United States, because of its role in reducing tooth decay in children and tooth loss in adults (CDC 1999). Each U.S. Surgeon General has endorsed water fluoridation over the decades it has been practiced, emphasizing that “[a] significant advantage of water fluoridation is that all residents of a community can enjoy its protective benefit…. A person’s income level or ability to receive dental care is not a barrier to receiving fluoridation’s health benefits” (Carmona 2004). As noted earlier, this report does not evaluate nor make judgments about the benefits, safety, or efficacy of artificial water fluoridation. That practice is reviewed only in terms of being a source of exposure to

The NRC reported in 2007 that fluoride was considered an element essential to life. Fluoride plays an important role in the body’s ability to perform metabolic and biochemical reactions that help prevent tooth decay and help bone formation. Essentially the government says that the fluoridation of water is more helpful than harmful for people as it is a good use of tax dollars as it treats upper class and lower class citizens equally in dental prevention.

Studies show that dental caries does not increase following the cessation of fluoridated water (21,22)

Fluoride has been used by people for many decades. The most common use is in toothpaste. Fluoride was added to toothpaste to lower the amount of dental cavities that one gets, and works by protecting the enamel (outer hard layer over the tooth). Another use of fluoride is in drinking water. It was added to drinking water to also help with tooth decay. Many people are debating whether or not this is truly safe. In the essay, “The Fluoride Conspiracy”, by Laurie Higgs, she talks about the use of fluoride drinking waters and dangers it brings by using logos, pathos, and ethos.

According to World Health Organization data obtained from a study on 12 year old’s levels of tooth decay, fluoride has had very little effect, if any at all, on tooth decay. Countries such as Japan, Italy, and Iceland, who are non-fluoridated countries, actually have about the same level of tooth decay decrease as countries that have fluoridated water. Fluoride is considered a drug, according to the FDA, which means that it is a medical treatment. Medical treatments are not to be given unless the patient agrees to the treatment, therefore, placing fluoride into the public water supply violates informed consent seeing as how citizens are not given the opportunity to vote on the matter. Even if people could vote on the situation, not all people are going to agree with and since it is considered a drug, it

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommendation for the optimal fluoride level in drinking water to prevent tooth decay have changed from 0.7 -1.2 milligrams per liter stablished in 1962 to 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water. This change was the result of a systematic reviews of the scientific evidence related community water fluoridation since it was incorporated in 1945. As a result of community water fluoridation there was an increase in the percentage of children who were caries-free and a significant decreases in the number of teeth or tooth surfaces with caries in both children and adult. The main reason to lower the recommendation was because Americans nowadays have more sources of fluoride than the ones

Fluorides are compounds that have been combined with the element fluorine with another substance usually a metal (Cancer.org 2015). Fluoride is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, in soil everywhere, in fresh water and in ocean water (Fluoride information network 2015). Fluorides strengthen teeth already present inside the mouth. Once in the digestive tract they travel through the blood to areas with high

Recent research, however, has consistently shown it to be an insufficient and not an effective form of prevention to tooth decay. In the most largely conducted longitudinal study following infants through childhood, there has been no correlation with increased fluorine concentration in water and decreased tooth decay (Warren, 2008). Yet, there was a correlation between increased water fluoridation and increased dental fluorosis (Warren, 2008). These results align closely with that of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDR) study conducted in 1986-1987. When water fluoride concentration was less than 0.3mg/L, 55.5% children were shown to have tooth decay, while the children with dental fluorosis was 14.6% (Yiamouyiannnis, 1990). However, as the water fluoride concentration increased to over 1.2mg/L, the incidence of children with tooth decay was 56.4%, while the incidence of children with fluorosis rose significantly to 40.5% (Yiamouyiannnis, 1990). Fluoridation of water has also been shown to be

For the past seventy years, fluoridated drinking water has provided people across the country daily dental care, straight from the tap. Named one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century by the CDC, fluoridated water substantially reduces tooth decay, making fewer emergency dentist visits as easy as sipping a cup of good old fashioned H2O. Yet dangerous misinformation about fluoridated water persists. As Thomasville, High Point, Lexington and Denton’s most trusted source for dental care, you know Smith Bundy Fisher DDS PA always offers reliable oral health information you can count on. Here, they debunk harmful myths about fluoridated water.

Fluorine is added in water in certain countries and used in toothpaste so that it can strengthen people’s teeth.

Fluoride is a trace element that possess many beneficial effects on skeletal and dental health. It prevents tooth decay by providing resistance against acids, supporting remineralization, and hindering the process of bacteria being able to produce. Another function is blocking osteoporosis from forming, and minimizes bone demineralization. Supplements can be developed from fluoride and provide protection for teeth to give them extra support. However, there is a certain amount that must be taken, failure in exceeding the minimum cause the mottling of teeth.

Dental fluorosis is a change in the appearance of the tooth's enamel. These changes can vary from barely noticeable white spots to staining and pitting in the more severe forms. Dental fluorosis only occurs when younger children consume too much fluoride, from any source, over long periods when teeth are developing under the gums (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). For this reason, it is very important to have a monitoring system in place to ensure fluoride levels are kept at a safe level. Even with the potential risk of fluorosis, fluoridation of water has proven to be effective in reducing tooth decay by at least 25%. Fortunately, fluoridation of water is cost effective as an individual can have a lifetime of fluoridated water for less than the cost of one dental

and it can found naturally in some foods and beverages, like fish and tea, and also normally exist in most of the water supply, but the concentration is different. Fluoride helps in increasing tooth strength and makes it more decay-resistant. Also, it helps the tooth repair in the early decay stage through remineralization. Fluoride could be applied typically, like toothpaste, fluoride varnish, and mouth rinse, or it may be used systemically through a different approach, like fluoridated salt and fluoride tablets. Water fluoridation provides both types of exposure.

Water fluoridation was first implemented in the USA in 1945 and since then there are around 25 countries in the world that receive fluoridated water and around 10% of the UK population. Fluoridation schemes started when a significant association of fluoride and lower incidence of tooth decays was noticed, in naturally occurring fluoridated areas with 1mg/L of fluoride. Therefore, fluoride has been added where needed, in order to obtain the ‘optimal’ concentration of around 1mg/L. This concentration is determined the optimal, as it is where the public gets the maximum prevention of dental caries with the minimum adverse effects. In the UK, Birmingham was the first city that introduced fluoridation and it was estimated that between 1970 and 1980,

Shortly thereafter, he noticed that a high amount of children had splotchy brown stains on their teeth. After many years of research, he discovered that an excess amount of natural fluoride coming from their drinking water was the cause of the disease we now know today as fluorosis, but Dr. Mckay, along with another with other top dental hygienists concluded that putting a tiny amount of fluoride in the water would help prevent overall tooth decay, and they eventually got their wish.