You see it everywhere: fluoride toothpastes and fluoride added to municipal drinking water. What’s the big deal? Fluoride has been proven to prevent, and, in some cases reverse tooth decay and harden tooth enamel. Despite that, there are also a number of myths about fluoride use. Let’s bust some of the myths regarding fluoride.

History of Fluoride and Its Results

In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan began a comparison test between itself and nearby Muskegon when it started adding fluoride to its drinking water while Muskegon went without. In the process, researchers performed before and after dental exams, among other tests to both groups. The results: the Grand Rapids group’s teeth were so much better than the Muskegon group by the end of the study that Muskegon began fluorinating their water too!

Myths Regarding Fluoride

There are many myths regarding the use of fluoride. One claims that fluoride can lead to many health problems including cancer. Another myth is that fluoride can cause a condition called fluorosis, which can have the opposite effect on teeth and can actually cause teeth to become pitted and brown, and that adding fluoride to drinking water is equivalent to making people take unwanted medication.

The Facts About Fluoride

Fluoride is actually not a medication; it’s a mineral and adding it to water is a public health measure, like adding Vitamin D to milk. In addition, many authoritative groups consider water fluorination and water treatments safe and effective at preventing cavities. As for fluorosis, it is real but never really occurs in the U.S. It occurs primarily in areas where the natural fluoride in the water is much higher than the amount administered in the United States. When fluorosis does occur in the U.S, it is usually so mild that only a dentist would be able to tell that the condition exists.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride can be administered in two effective ways: systemic and topical. When administered systemically, the tooth receives the fluoride from the bloodstream via food, water, or dietary supplements. Such administrative practices can reduce tooth decay by as much as 60%, particularly among younger children. Fluoride is also administered directly to the tooth service or topically. This occurs through tooth paste and at-home fluoride gels as well as professional fluoride treatments during a routine dentist visit.