10 Must-Know Facts About Fluoride

Fact #1: Fluoride occurs naturally in water, though usually not at a high enough level to protect teeth.

  • Fluoride exists naturally in virtually all water supplies.
  • There are proven benefits to our health from having the right amount of fluoride — just enough to protect our teeth — in the water.
  • In 2011, federal health officials recommended a new level of fluoride for water: 0.7 parts per million.

Fact #2: Fluoride has been recognized as an important nutrient for healthy teeth.

  • Fluoride is a mineral and in the right amount, fluoride in drinking water strengthens teeth. Fluoride is not a medication.
  • Fluoride is one of several examples of everyday products fortified to improve our health — iodine is added to salt, folic acid is added to breads and cereals, and Vitamin D is added to milk.
  • U.S. court decisions have rejected the argument that fluoride is a medication.

Fact #3: Fluoridation is the most cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay and build healthy communities.

  • Evidence shows that for most cities, every $1 invested in fluoridation saves $38 in costs to treat dental problems.
  • In Texas, the state saved $24 per child, per year in Medicaid expenditures because of the cavities that were prevented by drinking fluoridated water.
  • Water fluoridation saved the state of Colorado nearly $149 million by avoiding unnecessary dental treatment.

Fact #4: Fluoridation is a public health measure, a modest community-wide investment that benefits everyone.

  • Fluoride exists naturally in virtually all water supplies, so it isn’t a question of choosing, but a question of assuring that people receive the right amount to prevent tooth decay.
  • Public health decisions are made based on what benefits the entire community and on sound scientific evidence.
  • Our tax dollars help pay to fix dental problems that result from tooth decay. For example, in New York, Medicaid enrollees in counties where fluoridation was rare needed 33.4% more fillings, root canals, and extractions than those in counties where there was fluoridated water.

Fact #5: Fluoridated water is the best way to protect everyone’s teeth from decay.

  • Fluoridated water + toothpaste = less tooth decay! The benefits of water fluoridation build on those from fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride toothpaste alone is not enough, which is why pediatricians and dentists often prescribe fluoride tablets to children living in non-fluoridated areas.
  • After looking at all the ways we get fluoride — including fluoride toothpaste — the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that communities fluoridate water at 0.7 parts per million. Any less than that puts the health of our teeth at risk.

Fact #6: Very high fluoride concentrations can lead to a condition called fluorosis. Nearly all fluorosis in the U.S. is mild. This condition does not cause pain and does not affect the health or function of the teeth.

  • Nearly all cases of fluorosis — faint, white specks on teeth — are mild. Mild fluorosis does not cause pain, and it does not affect the health or function of the teeth.
  • In 2015, the CDC proposed a new level for fluoridation — 0.7 parts per million — that is expected to reduce the likelihood of fluorosis while continuing to protect teeth from decay.

Fact #7: Getting enough fluoride in childhood is critical to strengthening our teeth over an entire lifetime.

  • Babies and children need fluoride to strengthen their growing teeth. The use of fluoride to prevent and control cavities is documented to be both safe and effective.
  • Children who drink fluoridated water as their teeth grow will have stronger teeth that resist decay better over their lifetime. A 2010 study confirmed that the fluoridated water consumed as a young child makes the loss of teeth due to decay less likely 40 or 50 years later.

Fact #8: Children who swallow toothpaste are at increased risk of mild fluorosis.

  • The warning label on toothpaste reflects the fact that it contains a higher concentration (roughly 1,000 times as much fluoride) per milligram than fluoridated water.
  • Fluoride toothpaste is recommended for babies and toddlers by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Dental Association.
  • The only risk to children of too much fluoride is dental fluorosis, which does not harm the teeth or a child’s health. That is why it is important to follow the guidelines on the proper amount of toothpaste to use, to supervise children when brushing, and to teach them to spit but not to swallow.

Fact #9: Fluoridated water is safe for babies and young children.

  • The ADA states that doctors “can suggest the continued use of powdered or liquid concentrate infant formulas reconstituted with optimally fluoridated drinking water.” Parents should discuss any questions they may have with their health care providers.
  • A 2010 study examined the issue of fluorosis and infant formula, and reached the conclusion that “no general recommendations to avoid use of fluoridated water in reconstituting infant formula are warranted.” The researchers examined the condition’s impact on children and concluded that “the effect of mild fluorosis was not adverse and could even be favorable.”

Fact #10: Although Americans’ teeth are healthier than they used to be, many people still suffer from decay and the impact it has on their lives.

  • Tooth decay is the most common health problem in U.S. children, five times more common than asthma. Tooth decay affects a child’s ability to sleep, speak, learn and grow.
  • Poor dental health damages job prospects. A 2008 study showed that people who were missing front teeth were seen as less intelligent and less desirable by employers.
  • In a 2008 study of the armed forces, 52% of new recruits were categorized as Class 3 in “dental readiness” — meaning they had oral health problems that needed urgent attention and would delay overseas deployment.

Read More: http://ilikemyteeth.org/fluoridation/fluoride-myths-facts/