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For 75 years, people across America have been doing something to support their oral health, often without even knowing it. That’s because, in communities across the nation, fluoride gets added to the water supply.
In fact, the improvement in the oral health of the general American population can be attributed, at least in part, to this practice. It has helped to reduce childhood cavities threefold.
Here at Advanced Dental Care of East Texas in Jasper, Texas, Eric R. Koch, DDS, and our team specifically integrate fluoride into our dental cleanings to support your oral health. To help you understand why it’s so essential, we also developed this quick guide.
Fluoride is a mineral that naturally occurs on earth. When ingested, it can help a child’s teeth even before they break through their gums. When they drink water with fluoride in it or get fluoride from other sources, it helps to strengthen the enamel of their teeth as they develop. Enamel is the hard outer coating on teeth that helps to protect them from decay and keeps them white.
As an adult, fluoride remineralizes your teeth, rebuilding the enamel you’ve lost. As a result, it can play a role in reversing tooth decay. And since plaque continually attacks your enamel, fluoride can play a critical role in preserving your oral health.
In fact, if you’re currently experiencing tooth decay, we strongly recommend choosing a toothpaste with added fluoride. We can provide you with one that contains highly concentrated fluoride.
Because of some small studies — many of which have been refuted by further research — some people have concerns about whether fluoride consumption is safe.
To put your mind at ease, it may be helpful to know that fluoride has been extensively studied, and no compelling research has resulted to show that it presents a public health risk. In fact, all of the following organizations recommend community water fluoridation:
It’s not just domestic groups supporting the wide use of fluoride, either. The World Health Organization also advocates for community water fluoridation.
If you want to learn more about fluoride, we’re available. We can answer all of your questions and concerns. To talk more with our team about fluoride or to get a fluoride-based preventive treatment applied during your next teeth cleaning, call our office or book your visit online today.
