Fluoride Fears: The Myths And The Facts

Calcium often takes the spotlight for building strong bones and teeth and many TV commercials and print ads acknowledge this fact. But are you aware that there is another trace mineral that does the same? That, my friend, is fluoride which is found naturally in most soils and in many water supplies.

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A little fluoride goes a long way in making the teeth more resistant to decay and the bones more resistant to osteoporosis. In the late 1930s, dental researchers found that people who grew up in areas with water containing one part per million of fluoride had up to 60 percent less cavities than those who didn’t drink fluoridated water.

To bring the benefits of fluoride to other areas, the United States began its fluoridation program in 1945. Today, more than 135 million people in America alone drink water that is fluoridated either artificially or naturally.

But fluoridation is not without its critics. Despite the success of this important public health measure, food faddists, cultists and quacks have succeeded in removing fluoride from some water systems and in preventing others from using it. The anti-fluoridation movement claims that fluoridated water increases the risk of cancer, birth defects and other health problems.

However, there is no scientific evidence to support this view. In reality, fluoridation is one of the most thoroughly studied community health measures endorsed by the US Public Health Service, the World Health Organization, the National Cancer Institute and the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention among others.

Maintaining good oral health is easy. All you have to do is brush at least two times a day using mildly abrasive fluoride toothpaste, floss daily and visit your dentist at least twice a year.

This makes fluoridation an important public health measure that shouldn’t be ignored. In the absence of fluoridated water, fluoride supplements, fluoridated mouth rinses or gels can be applied to the teeth. Ask your dentist about this to protect yourself from cavities. Visit Cosmetic Dentist Dallas.