Everything You Need To Know About Fluoride: Myths and Facts

What Is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that strengthens bones and teeth. It has a positive impact on oral health by preventing tooth decay and reducing sensitive tooth pain.

Fluoride helps tooth enamel growth. Tooth enamel is the barrier that protects teeth from bacteria and plaque. Bacteria will use acid attacks to destroy enamel. Less enamel means more chance of tooth decay. Regular fluoride intake ensures that the tooth enamel remains strong and resistant to attacks.

Many dental products, including mouth rinses and toothpaste, contain a small amount of fluoride. Many places add sodium fluoride supplements to community drinking water supplies. Doing so is an affordable way to maintain dental health in all the United States.

Some people believe that adding fluoride to drinking water is dangerous. This myth is due to media websites with a business interest misleading the public.

The best way to combat this myth is to provide extensive health education about fluoride. Understanding its benefits and potential side effects can help people make an informed decision.

Fluoride Facts

Fluoride Exists in Natural Drinking Water

All water, even pure bottled water, contains a small level of fluoride.

Fluoride Is Essential for Healthy Teeth

A 2013 study by a group of Australian dentists looked at the effect of fluoride in drinking water. It confirmed that its addition could help prevent dental caries in children by 31.6%. Adults that drink fluoride in water will also experience fewer instances of tooth decay.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Dental Association (ADA) recommend community water fluoridation. It helps combat poor oral health, with few adverse risks.

Only brushing with fluoride toothpaste isn't enough for good oral health, according to the CDC. The ADA recommends that children under the age of six use over the counter fluoride supplements. Adults and children should use ADA-seal products like toothpaste to prevent dental caries and other dental issues.

A dentist may recommend additional fluoride treatments for adults after a dental exam . Fluoride exposure helps people with sensitive teeth by building up enamel. Stronger enamel will also prevent other dental concerns.

Water Fluoridation Is a Cost-Effective Way To Prevent Tooth Decay

Fluoride added to drinking water is an inexpensive way to improve public health. Studies by the ADA estimate that every dollar invested in fluoridation saves $32 in future dentist visits. 

For example, in parts of New York where fluoridation was rare, some residents needed more fillings, root canals , and permanent tooth extractions than other areas with fluoridation. The people living in counties with fluorination had better oral health overall. 

Multiple Studies Confirm Fluoridated Water Is Safe

The safety of fluoride is frequently under scrutiny. Reputable sources, such as the ADA, CDC, and WHO, show that fluoride is safe at levels under 0.7 parts per million.

Too much fluoride can potentially result in conditions such as skeletal fluorosis or dental fluorosis. Still, these dangerous levels are much higher than levels found in communal tap water in the United States.

Dental fluorosis is the most common condition caused by excess fluoride. It results in white spots appearing on a child's milk teeth. However, the condition is harmless and doesn't affect permanent teeth.

The ADA seal products for children also contain large amounts of the mineral. Regular testing during product development ensures that their products are safe for use for everyone.

Fluoride Myths

Artificial Is Bad While Natural Is Good

Some people believe that added fluoride is somehow dangerous. These people also believe that naturally occurring fluoride is beneficial. There is no chemical or functional difference between the two.

Fluoride Can Reduce IQ

Concerned citizens often refer to a 2011 review that evaluated the impact of high levels of fluoride on intelligence. The article showed that high levels of fluoride affected the brainpower of residents of Asian villages.

Unfortunately, there are several flaws with the review. Firstly, the article used obscure articles from small journals, and these articles had issues with research design. Also, the typical levels of the fluoride found in these villages frequently exceeded ten parts per million. The standard ADA recommended dose in the US is 0.7 parts per million, which is substantially less.

Fluoride Is More Toxic Than Lead

A common claim is that fluoride is more dangerous to children than arsenic or lead. The source of this claim is a toxicity rating chart published for industrial, commercial products. The same chart indicates that both table salt and caffeine are also more toxic than lead.

Many anti-fluoridation supporters will use misleading claims to promote their cause. All compounds in the world are toxic at large enough doses, including water and oxygen. In the industrial chart referred to above, very toxic substances will cause death when consumed at 50-500mg/kg.

An ordinary person would need to drink more than 6000 liters of water to reach this concentration. By that time, they would be dead of water toxicity well before anything else killed them.

A Fluoridated Water Supply Will Cause Fluorosis

Studies show that high levels of fluoride can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis. This dental condition is minor and affects non-permanent children's teeth. Skeletal fluorosis may cause joint pain, stiffness, and calcification of ligaments.

However, the levels that cause these conditions are much higher than in fluoridated water. A child or adult would have to consume dozens of gallons of water to reach dangerous fluoride levels.

Some children may suffer from dental fluorosis from eating toothpaste, but the condition is harmless. Skeletal fluorosis is more serious but is incredibly rare in children and adults.

Conclusion

The inclusion of fluoride in drinking water has reduced tooth decay prevalence in children and adults in the US. While fear-mongering has resulted in some people distrusting published studies, the mineral is safe in the recommended dose. While it can cause minor issues, the benefits of fluoride far outweigh the risks.

If you want more dental health information, don't hesitate to contact your dentist at the Smile Spa. We're always here to help you make an informed and educated decision about your oral health.