Fluoride
We are seeing more patients with cavities now than we have in quite some time? Since communities started fluorinating their water, plus bottled water products containing fluroride, fluoride toothpaste and mouthwashes have all helped to keep the onset of cavities down.
Many communities have made the decision to stop fluorinating their water and the incidence of tooth cavities are on the rise.
So, if you have been cavity free and you want to remain that way, read the information below for some good oral care practices and tips for you to maintain a healthy mouth.
Fluoride occurs naturally in rocks and soil and is among the most abundant substances in the earth’s crust. As a result, it’s often found in a dissolved form in lakes, rivers and groundwater. Because fluoride is so common, and because human activities such as manufacturing release it into the air, all vegetation and almost all foods contain traces of it.
As early as the 1930s, scientists noticed that people who drank naturally fluoridated water had less tooth decay than people who didn’t. They soon realized that fluoride might be nature’s answer to tooth decay, and more research in the 1940s and 1950s showed that it could contribute greatly to dental health.
As a result, many communities in Canada and the United States began to add fluoride to their drinking water. Manufacturers of dental care products also started putting it into toothpastes, rinses, gels and varnishes. Dietary supplements like fluoride lozenges also became available. With these products, fluoride is available to everyone, even when their water doesn’t contain it.
How Fluoride Works
Tooth decay results from the effects of acids on the minerals in your tooth enamel. These acids are produced by bacteria in the mouth and literally dissolve the minerals right out of your teeth.
Not only does fluoride protect your teeth from the damage caused by acids, but it also stops bacteria from producing the harmful acids in the first place. In addition, it helps your body replace the minerals in your teeth, repairing the damage the acids have done. And with children, the right amount of fluoride helps their enamel mature.
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