We have all seen the ads for toothpaste. They always advertise fluoride. Hopefully, you already know this, but we all drink water with fluoride in it. More than seventy-five years ago, the only source of fluoride was found at the dentist's office. There was no fluoride in the drinking water at that time. No one had even conceived of such a thing. Dentists would offer fluoride treatments as part of their cleaning and examination process. It was quick and painless and had a bit of a sweet flavor to it. Kids loved it.
Studies compared people who went to the dentist and regularly received fluoride treatments to those who did not. The results were astounding. While those receiving the treatments still developed cavities, it was at 1/10th the rate of those who did not. In the late 60s and early 70s, there was a push to add fluoride to drinking water. The thought was even though some people might not go to the dentist, they could still receive the benefits of fluoride.
When it was added to drinking water, other studies compared those who drank city-supplied water to those who drank from wells or cisterns, and the results were just as stark. Those who drank from city water had 79% fewer cavities than those who did not.
It seemed fluoride had proven its importance to dental care. It provides a barrier over tooth enamel and strengthens it, so it is less susceptible to decay and disease.
In Conclusion
Thus, we asked the question does fluoride really work at the beginning of this blog. Well, what do you think? Of course, it works. The proof is all around us. When compared to other countries that do not provide fluoride-enriched water, we have far fewer instances of decay and cavities. Also, the next time you're in a drug store, look for toothpaste without fluoride. Sure, they do make it, for those individuals who are allergic, but you have to look awfully hard for it.
Dental Blog | Sunnyside Dentistry | Clackamas, OR dentist Dick Hikade, DDS at Sunnyside Dentistry has created this informative blog to help educate the community about dental concerns. Sunnyside Dentistry, 14210 SE Sunnyside Rd, Suite 200, Clackamas, OR 97015 / (503) 451-5104 / sunnysidedentistry.com / 10/11/2024 / Related Phrases: dentist Clackamas OR /
We have all seen the ads for toothpaste. They always advertise fluoride. Hopefully, you already know this, but we all drink water with fluoride in it. More than seventy-five years ago, the only source of fluoride was found at the dentist's office. There was no fluoride in the drinking water at that time. No one had even conceived of such a thing. Dentists would offer fluoride treatments as part of their cleaning and examination process. It was quick and painless and had a bit of a sweet flavor to it. Kids loved it.