Regardless of how good your oral hygiene habits are, your teeth will still be susceptible to tooth decay if you are not getting enough fluoride. That is one of the reasons why it is now the norm for public water supply systems to be fluoridated. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention regards fluoridated water supply systems as one of the top 10 public health advancements of the 20th century.
Fluoride is essential for healthy tooth enamel – which serves as a protective barrier for your dentin. Here are 5 reasons why fluoride is good for your teeth:
While some people believe the conspiracy theory that fluoridated water is a part of the government's plan to reduce the population, fluoridated water is safe to consume. In fact, fluoride is a naturally-occurring element and is extremely effective when it comes to fighting off tooth decay.
The enamel of your teeth is constantly coming into contact with acids from the bacteria in your mouth and in the foods you consume. That means the enamel of your teeth is constantly weakening. Fluoride helps to re-mineralize your enamel and strengthen it.
As far as the safety of regularly consuming fluoride, its use has been endorsed by over 100 health organizations, including the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Dental Association, the American Medical Association, and the U.S. Surgeon General. There has been no conclusive research that indicates fluoride is harmful to humans in any way.
When a person consumes adequate amounts of fluoride, his/her teeth are better able to handle the damage from the acids of the bacteria in the mouth. Due to the fact tooth decay is one of the most common dental issues people deal with, having teeth that are less susceptible to the corrosive nature of certain acids means you are less likely to develop issues like cavities or fractures.
Fluoride is in ocean and groundwater, so it is one of those things humans have been consuming for thousands of years. Getting extra fluoride from toothpaste, mouthwash, or fluoridated water is no different than using salt fortified with iodine or orange juice fortified with calcium.
There is nothing artificial about consuming fluoride, so there is no need to worry about any adverse health effects.
As was mentioned earlier, fluoride helps to strengthen tooth enamel, which in turn keeps tooth decay at bay.
Tooth decay often leads to cavities – which can lead to toothaches or tooth infections. None of these things are pleasant, and they require visits to the dentist which cost time and money. If left unaddressed for prolonged periods of time, cavities can even lead to the complete loss of a tooth.
Want to learn more about the benefits of fluoride? Contact one of our dentists today.
Request an appointment in our Port Charlotte dentist office here: https://dragonflydentalportcharlotte.com.
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