Fluoride

What is fluoride? When an individual hears the word fluoride they probably think about their dentist office, and the treatment that they put on their teeth. Fluoride is defined as a salt of hydrofluoric acid consisting of two elements, fluorine as sodium fluoride and fluorine as methyl fluoride. What this means is that fluoride is used to prevent tooth decay and, we are not only exposed to fluoride at the dentist office but in our everyday lives. 

Is fluoride bad for you? According to the American Dental Association fluoride that is in our drinking water is safe and beneficial because it works.  Fluoride in drinking water prevents up to 25% of tooth decay in children and adults. It is believed that because fluoride is natural it is good for our health and because it prevents tooth decay and cavities it has to be good. However, if you look on the back of your tube of toothpaste one of the warnings listed is that if you accidentally swallow toothpaste the individual should call their nearest poison control center. This raises many concerns, and has people questioning whether or not fluoride actually is good for you. When researching it is crucial to look not only at dental sites but also published research. Fluoride is toxic at certain concentrations.

Where does fluoride come from: toothpaste and drinking water? Fluoride is a natural mineral that is found in bodies of water, such as streams, lakes and the ocean. Fluoride is dissolved into the ground and that is where we get our drinking water from, therefore our drinking water used to contain about 1 part per million, however it was recently changed to a safer level of .7 parts per million. According to ilikemyteeth.org where there is not enough fluoride in water, local water operators add just enough to ensure the optimal level to protect our teeth. Crest was the first company who introduced fluoridated toothpaste in the 1950’s. Fluoride was added in an attempt to reduce cavities and prevent tooth decay for all individuals.  Is fluoride that is in toothpaste and water the same? Yes, fluoride that is in drinking water is the same as fluoride that is in toothpaste. However, there is a different amount that is contained in both. Toothpastes contain about .15% of fluoride.

What is the history of fluoride use? Fluoride started being used for oral health in the 40’s. It was 1945 that fluoride was added to water supply in Grand Rapids, Michigan for a study to see if it would have an effect on individuals oral health. This study was a breakthrough and now billions of people are benefiting from a somewhat free oral care that is helping reduce cavities and working as a preventative for tooth decay. How does Ohio look at fluoride? Ohio has a fluoridation law that mandates adding fluoride to all water providers who supply a population of 5,000 people or more when the level is less than .8 mg/L. Ohio does allow communities to exempt themselves from complying to the law if they do not wish to take part in the health measure.

Does fluoride affect the brain or other organs? The Harvard School of Public Health states that fluoride seems to fit in with lead, mercury and other poisons that cause chemical brain drain.  Studies have shown that fluoride is known to damage the developing brain and can cause serious disorders is exposed to high levels. What are the benefits of fluoride? There are many benefits to fluoride, one being that fluoride is natural in our soil and to our water supply, however, it the amount of fluoride can vary depending on the source of water.