The Truth About Fluoride
- Hygge Laser Dentistry
- Mar 24
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 25
The debate over fluoridation dates back roughly 75 years, when communities began fluoridating water to prevent tooth decay. The issue is: Is fluoridated water safe for your health?
So, how do you make an informed decision about fluoride? Is it safe? What is it, and how does it help? What else should you know about fluoride to make the best decision for you and your family?
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral used in dentistry to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities. Fluoride is a mineral in your bones and teeth found in many natural sources such as water, soil, plants, and rocks. However, the natural occurrence of fluoride in water and other consumables is usually not enough to prevent tooth decay. For this reason, fluoride is added to drinking water as a public health measure to reduce the prevalence and severity of cavities.
What Does Fluoride Do?
The truth is that, yes, fluoride does help children develop healthy, strong teeth and can continue to help adults maintain their oral health. Fluoride also helps prevent cavities.
Fluoride protects teeth from developing tooth decay in three ways:
Strengthens tooth enamel and creates resistance to acid, which causes cavities
Reverses early tooth decay by putting minerals back into the teeth
Interferes with bacteria’s ability to make acid
How does fluoride prevent tooth decay?
Essentially, tooth decay is damage to or the erosion of tooth enamel. When fluoride and water mix with saliva, the mineral is absorbed by dental plaque and then bonds with weakened tooth enamel. This process can prevent or even reverse tooth decay!
How Do I Know If Fluoride Is In My Drinking Water?
Did you know that for over 75 years, people in the US have been drinking water with added fluoride to provide a broad and practical dental health benefit?
Community water fluoridation is considered one of the top 10 outstanding health achievements of the 20th century. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), fluoridation of community drinking water safely and inexpensively benefits children and adults by effectively preventing tooth decay, regardless of socioeconomic status or access to care. Fluoridation has been essential in reducing tooth decay (40 - 70% in children) and tooth loss (40 - 60% in adults) for individuals throughout the US. Source
To learn more about fluoride levels in your local drinking water, the CDC has a helpful tool for checking your local water supply. This online tool will tell you whether and how much fluoride your city adds to its water supply.
Check Water Fluoridation Here: https://nccd.cdc.gov/doh_mwf/default/default.aspx
Is Fluoride Safe?
When used correctly, fluoride is not only practical but also safe. However, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. The main risk of using too much fluoride is dental fluorosis.
Children can develop this condition if exposed to excessive fluoride for an extended period, especially when young. Please remember that when used in recommended amounts, fluoride is a safe and beneficial tool in the fight against tooth decay.
The most common reason children develop fluorosis is swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste. Always supervise children brushing their teeth to ensure they spit out the toothpaste after brushing. If you notice white spots developing on your child’s teeth, these may be signs of dental fluorosis, and please consult your dental team.
What Are The Benefits of Professional Fluoride Treatments?
The benefits of professional fluoride treatments for children are significant. While fluoridated water has been a standard in the US for decades, children may not receive enough fluoride from toothpaste or drinking water, especially if your child primarily drinks bottled water.
Professional fluoride treatments compensate for the average deficiency in fluoride intake, providing a crucial boost to your child's dental health. The earlier children are exposed to fluoride, the less likely they are to develop cavities.
The dentists at Hygge Laser Dentistry, dental office in Ballard, recommend and provide professional fluoride treatments to strengthen teeth and protect against cavities. Fluoride treatments are applied in a highly concentrated rinse or varnish that safely supplies much more fluoride than toothpaste or water. The varnish is typically applied at the end of a hygiene treatment and only takes a few minutes to brush onto the teeth.
Talk to our dental team if you have more questions about the benefits and risks of using fluoride. Fluoride is a safe and natural way to help prevent tooth decay. At your next appointment in our Seattle, WA, dental office, Dr. Gordon or Dr. Mueller will perform a thorough evaluation and help you make informed decisions about your dental health.