Fluoride: Friend or Foe?
- Andrea Fallon DMD
- May 21
- 2 min read
Updated: May 28
The fluoride debate is one that is decades long and has surfaced in many different ways. Recently, this debate is being highlighted on a national stage. Recently the U.S. Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, has recommended that the CDC stop promoting water fluoridation nationwide. Last week, Utah was the first state to place a statewide ban on community water fluoridation. This movement is gaining steam, but is removing fluoride for our benefit or is it all smoke and mirrors? These decisions are largely being made based on fear reinforced by the results from studies with subjects in Canada,China, India, Pakistan, Iran and Mexico where the water fluoridation is at 1.5 mg fluoride per liter. The results claim significant decreases in children's IQ scores as a result of water fluoridation. Our current U.S. standard based on the 2022 CDC guidelines is less than half of that at 0.7mg/liter. This brings into question the ability to use these studies as a model in the U.S. to read more on the FACTS of fluoridation look here : https://www.ada.org/resources/community-initiatives/fluoride-in-water
More on Fluoride:
Fluoride is a naturally occuring element in our groundwater. Observations were made in Colorado Springs, CO in the early 1900's that some locals had brown spots on their teeth and that these teeth had less incidence of getting cavities . In 1945, The Grand Rapids,MI was the first community to have their drinking water fluoridated. This was a 15 year study, and found that the cavity rate among Grand Rapids children born after fluoride was added to the water supply dropped more than 60 percent! This means less work missed, less school missed, less pain and less dental treatments! To learn more look here : https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/fluoride/the-story-of-fluoridation
Fluoride in water works by a systemic mode. Meaning, that If you have developing teeth and fluoride is available, your body will incorporate fluoride into your tooth enamel. This fluoride-apatite ( enamel with fluoride) is more resistant to acid enamel breakdown. This ultimately leads to fewer cavities. Systemic fluoride does not affect adults as they do not have actively growing teeth. Don't worry, adults can still have the benefits of fluoride in its topical form. Topical fluoride that found in toothpastes, varnishes and other hygiene aids is applied directly to the teeth. This mode of fluoride is what helps the teeth that are currently showing in your mouth fein off decay. Given all the data we would say that fluoride is positively a FRIEND in keeping your teeth healthy and happy!
We are fortunate that in today's world we know more about cavities and how they form than the dentists did in the last century. Fluoride and nanohydroxyapatite are helping better prevent cavities, but they are not the only factors. Diet and oral microbiome are just two of other factors that play into an patients individual cavity risk. We make sure our patients all understand their risk factors for cavities. We entertain conversations about how to minimize decay risk all the time. If you have any questions about your risk and how to mitigate it, just ask!
For more info check out photo links below
Comments