From a young age, you’re taught the importance of brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. However, there are other smile-preserving best practices that patients often forget, like using products with fluoride. If you’ve heard about this naturally occurring mineral, but aren’t exactly sure what it is, then keep reading to learn more about the effects of fluoride on teeth!
The History of Fluoride & Oral Health
In the 1940s, the decision was made to add fluoride to our water supply. Why? In short, extensive research on this naturally occurring mineral discovered it provides numerous smile-related benefits to the public, including protection against cavities. In fact, since adding it to the water supply, there has been a 15% increase in children with no decay in their baby teeth and a 14% increase in children with no decay in their permanent teeth! As a result, fluoride has been added to a variety of products, including toothpaste and mouthwash in hopes of keeping the publics’ smiles cavity-free throughout the years.
The Pros and Cons of Fluoride Today
Since being added to the water supply, people have had a lot of opinions about fluoride. For example, the negative effects of excessive exposure (examples: tooth discoloration and bone problems) have raised concerns about individuals who consume high levels unintentionally. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association have conducted rigorous studies that have found the incredible benefits of incorporating fluoride, especially since our diets are getting higher and higher in sugar and carbs.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, the decision on what is best for you and your oral health is up to you and your dentist. If you have any questions about the products you should be using, whether or not fluoride is beneficial, or anything else pertaining to your oral health, speak up at your bi-yearly checkup and cleaning! From there, you both can have an open discussion and determine what the best route is for you.
About the Practice
At University Dental Group, we’re all about giving you the healthy, happy smile you deserve. To make taking care of your smile easy, we provide a comprehensive array of services in-house, have convenient hours, and provide flexible payment options to our patients. These are just a few of the many reasons we were awarded Best Dentist in Worcester in 2018 by WM Worcester Magazine! If you’d like to learn more about the effects of fluoride on your teeth or would like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to visit our website or give us a call at 508-960-6495.