Most people know that for years that dentists have been recommending fluoride as something to help prevent cavities. It’s in about every toothpaste, many mouth rinses, over-the-counter and prescription gels, and close to 70% of Americans have it in their drinking water. Practically evey dental professional credits fluoride for drastically reducing levels of tooth decay over the past few decades.
Fluoride is a mineral that exists naturally in water and soil. About 70 years ago, scientists discovered that people who lived where water supplies naturally had more fluoride also had fewer cavities. Today most public water supplies are fluoridated, especially in larger cities, and dental professionals appluad its usage.
But can there be too much of a good thing?
A recent government study found that two in five adolescents had some type of streaking or spotting on their teeth because of too much fluoride, a number that has grown considerably since the 1980s.
For most people these streaks or spots are totally harmless and barely visible to the naked eye, although in severe cases the tooth enamel can actually develop a pit-like surface. So even though fluoride does a fantastic job in cavity prevention, as with most things in medicine, there are side effects.
The good news is, as a result of this study, the federal governmenthas acted very rapidly to change their recommendation for the amount of fluoride in drinking water, making it 0.7 milligrams per liter of water. This is down from the fifty year standard of up to 1.2 milligrams.
Dr. Peer and his dental team applaud the government’s quick action! And we still want to help you avoid cavities as much as possible.
So keep brushing, flossing, rinsing, and drinking fluordated water. It’s also important to continue to see us for your regular dental visits. We will be glad to check your teeth to see if we can find any negative effects from fluoride and to look for cavities too. As with any dental condition, the sooner we find it, the easier and less costly it is to treat. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, please call us at 434-575-5677. We want to keep you smiling!
