It seems as though the only time that fluoride concerns arise, the issue it at hand is on one of two things: A city’s water supply and household toothpaste. In both instances, there are far more misconceptions abound than actual data. We’ve heard that fluoride is a poisonous and dangerous substance, which is an exaggerated truth. The fact of the matter is that it tends to scare people when they find out that a chemical is being added to things that go in our mouths. The reality about fluoride is that trace elements are very healthy for your teeth, while large lethal doses require a nearly absurd amount to become harmful. Today we will look at the foremost fluoride myth: Drinking water fluoridation.
Myth 1: Dangerous fluoride is added to our drinking water
Perhaps the most controversial fluoride myth is centered around our drinking water. This myth does make some sense, as we have all heard that you are supposed to spit out your toothpaste because of the dangers of fluoride poisoning. Yet, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) puts the fluoridation of drinking water on their list of Ten Great Public Health Achievements of the 20th Century. To put that into perspective, other things on that list include workplace safety, motor-vehicle safety, tobacco health hazard awareness, and even immunization. Needless to say, fluoridation of water is seen as somewhat of a big deal for public health. But, why?
Busted
Adding fluoride to our water has been shown to, even in the modern day, improve the public’s overall oral health by as much as 40 percent. This figure is even amid the widespread use of fluoride toothpaste, making the campaign to add fluoride to water one of the greatest health innovations ever. This may seem farfetched to us today, but that’s because we don’t remember a time when widespread dental diseases and oral decay were common among young adults.
Consider this
During WW2 enrollment in the 40s (just before widespread water fluoridation) around 15 percent of potential recruits (ages 18-35) were denied because they lacked 6 pairs of matching teeth. It would be difficult to imagine 15 percent of today’s millennials having less than 12 total teeth, but that was the reality less than a century ago. Because we have forgotten the tremendous difference in today’s baseline oral health compared to the historical average prior to drinking water fluoridation, it is difficult to see it’s impact.
Missoula’s best dentists
Next to the widespread effectiveness of water fluoridation, the most effective means for maintaining local dental health is to visit Dr. David Duke for all Missoula dentistry needs. Through his practice at Bitterroot Dental, Dr. Duke is proud to offer the latest techniques available to dentists everywhere, right here in Missoula! You and your family will enjoy anesthetic alternatives, laser dentistry, and an entire suite of cosmetic dentistry options. Schedule your appointment with Missoula’s Top Rated Local® dentist online or by phone today!
Be sure to check out our other fluoride myths in Part 2 of our series, where we will explore myths surrounding rinsing after brushing!
