Most public health authorities and medical associations worldwide recommend that children and adults receive some fluoride, to protect their teeth from decay. Small amounts of fluoride are unlikely to be dangerous. Here are some facts supporting the use of fluoride:. In , German researchers reported that tooth decay fell in cities where fluoride ceased to be added to the water. However, they called for further investigation into the reasons for this decline, which they said could be due to improved attitudes toward dental health and easier access to dental health products, compared with the years before fluoride was added.
They suggested that their findings might support the argument that caries can continue to fall if the concentration of fluoride is reduced from 1 part per million ppm to below 0.
The previous figure, in force from to , was 0. In , it was revised to the lower limit. It sets the maximum allowable level at 4 ppm , and a secondary maximum level at 2 ppm.
People are asked to inform the EPA if levels are above 2 ppm. Levels above 4 ppm could be hazardous. In areas where water naturally contains higher levels of fluoride, community water systems must ensure that the maximum level is no higher than 4 ppm.
Read the article in Spanish. A filling seals a hole, or cavity, in the tooth, preventing further damage, pain, and infection. Learn what having a filling entails here. Cavity pain can range from mild to intense. Cavities that cause pain are usually deep enough to have affected a nerve.
Learn more about cavity pain…. Twelve years ago, Juneau, AK, stopped adding fluoride to community water sources. A newly published study looks at how this has affected its…. Cracks in teeth vary in severity.
Some are mild and invisible, while others are significant and cause a lot of pain. Dentists judge the extent of…. Midlife tooth loss is tied to higher risk of cardiovascular disease, independently of traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure, a study….
Why do we have fluoride in our water? An ion is a positively- or negatively-charged atom that helps elements combine with one another. When fluorine, which is negatively charged, meets a positively-charged ion like sodium, cavity fighters are born.
When these fluoride compounds are in your mouth, they can actually make your teeth stronger and prevent cavities. They can even reverse early tooth decay.
So how does fluoride fight cavities? Tooth enamel is the outer covering of your teeth. Your spit, or saliva, is also loaded with calcium and phosphate and bathes the teeth to keep them strong. When you eat things like candy, crackers or noodles, cavity-causing bacteria starts feasting on the carbohydrates in these foods. Fluoride can be found in both fresh and sea water, in food e. In nature, it is found only in compound forms, such as the ore fluorspar calcium fluoride in soil and rock.
To form sodium fluoride, hydrogen fluoride derived from fluorspar is neutralized by sodium hydroxide from brine, and dried into a powder. Fluoride is currently the only active ingredient in toothpaste that is regulated by the FDA, per the Anticaries Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use, Final Monograph, to help prevent cavities and there are no other ingredients that can make a cavity prevention and enamel strengthening claim. The FDA recognizes three types of fluoride: sodium monofluorophosphate, sodium fluoride, and stannous fluoride and regulates the levels at which they can be included in toothpaste or mouthwash formulations.
We believe that toothpastes with fluoride are best to support one's oral health for strong and healthy teeth. We respect that not everyone wants fluoride in their oral care products, which is why we also offer natural toothpastes and mouthwashes without fluoride so consumers can choose what is best for their families and fits their values. We feel it is important to offer individuals a choice and trust that they will work with their dental care professionals to establish an oral care regimen that is right for them.
All fluoride toothpastes marketed in the US are required by the FDA to bear certain warning language that caution against accidental ingestion. Most of the concerns raised about fluoride have stemmed from controversy surrounding the fluoridation of municipal drinking water supplies. The question of mass fluoridation of public water is an entirely separate issue from including fluoride in toothpaste.
Fluoride toothpaste is applied directly to the surface of the teeth, delivers a benefit, and is immediately rinsed out. As with any product, be sure to discontinue use if you experience discomfort or other indications that the product may not be appropriate for your individual body chemistry.
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