Oral Health Tip: Facts About Fluoride

Facts About FluorideFluoride is proven to help prevent dental caries (tooth decay) when administered in proper doses. It is, in fact, one of the most important tools at a dentist’s disposal and a vital component of any oral health plan.

There is a well-financed, well-organized movement afoot to characterize fluoride use as a health risk, primarily relating to the widespread fluoridation of the public water supply. However, the preponderance of scientific evidence points to one conclusion: that the lifelong benefits of fluoride use far outweigh any potential minimal health risks. Communities throughout the United States have added trace amounts of fluoride to drinking water for more than 65 years, and many studies have shown that fluoridation is a major contributing factor to a significant decline in tooth decay in the U.S. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named fluoridation of water one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.

That said, it is important not to over-fluoridate the teeth of children younger than 8. Over-fluoridation over a long period of time at a young age can cause dental fluorosis, which is a change in the appearance of tooth enamel (usually characterized by small, white spots on the surface of teeth). This change only takes place before teeth have erupted through the gums, and people older than 8 do not develop fluorosis at all.
Of course, other sources of fluoride are far less controversial. These include:

  • Toothpaste

  • Mouth rinse

  • Dietary supplements

  • Gel and foam

  • Varnish

Of these, gel, foam, and varnish are typically limited to professional application at a dentist’s office. About 95 percent of toothpaste sold in the U.S. has fluoride as an active ingredient, and many mouth rinses advertise fluoride content as a selling point. Dietary supplements that include sodium fluoride as the active ingredient must be prescribed by a physician or dentist.

To learn more about how fluoride contributes to a healthy, beautiful smile, contact Serenity Dental today. Serenity Dental serves patients in Lutz, Land O’Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, or elsewhere in the Tampa Bay area.