We want to clear up confusion about fluoride and its safety. Recent misleading reporting of results from nonstandard studies and labeling changes on some fluoride products have caused some confusion and alarm.
The fact is that fluoride safety is well documented. Not only is it safe, it is also very effective at hardening tooth enamel—and in very small doses.
“The science behind the effectiveness of fluoride is well documented,” says Dr. Paula Kral of Dental Health Partners. “As a parent and a dentist, I used sodium fluoride toothpaste and fully support fluoridated water supplies.”
According to the American Dental Society, fluoride is safe to use for children, and it is recommended in oral care for adults. The youngest age for using fluoride toothpaste is age 3. Most prescribed fluoride products are recommended for kids age 6 and up.
Fluoride is a Mineral
Let’s take a moment to review the facts about fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that can be found in the earth and in springs, lakes, and rivers. Many minerals are associated with human health benefits. With fluoride in oral health products, the benefit comes primarily from topical treatments. Used in small amounts, fluoride hardens tooth enamel, making it more resistant to cavities.
How Fluoride Toothpaste Works
In order to harden tooth enamel, sodium fluoride or calcium fluoride compounds are added to toothpastes and other products. These ingredients—even in very small amounts as in toothpaste and chewable fluoride tablets—enable the fluoride to strengthen the tooth enamel quickly and effectively. We spit after brushing our teeth because the benefits of hardened enamel come from applying it to the teeth for about 2 minutes.
Did you know? The first fluoride toothpaste was released 70 years ago in 1956.
Why Brush with Fluoride Toothpaste?
Dentists tell you to brush twice a day because toothpaste that contains sodium fluoride can help remineralize tooth enamel. Making tooth enamel stronger and more resilient protects teeth against acids and bacteria. If left unchecked, bacteria and acids can form cavities in the teeth.
“We encourage families to take advantage of the many choices available when it comes to oral health products containing fluoride,” says Dr. Ashley Kerslake. In addition to , fluoride application is an option at Dental Health Partners.
Fluoride Supplements
Iowa is full of families living on farms and rural properties where their water source is well water. These private wells tap into Iowa’s groundwater, but that rarely contains significant levels of natural fluoride. This blog post came about because of a recent FDA labeling change on prescription fluoride tablets.
Dental Health Partners continues to follow the recommendations from the American Dental Association on chewable fluoride tabs.
“When families have only well water, their children will likely have softer enamel for their lifetime unless they add more fluoride to their oral healthcare routines,” says Dr. Paula. “With decades of experience as a family dentist, and as a mother myself, I would prescribe chewable fluoride tablets to my own kids because they are safe when taken as directed.”
What Happens Without Fluoride
So, what happens when fluoride isn’t used? Evidence shows that removing fluoridation from public water supplies has a detrimental effect on the teeth of children. In Calgary and Windsor, Canada, water fluoridation ceased. In less than ten years, the families and dentists in these cities noticed that their children were experiencing a much higher frequency of cavities. Treatment of cavities increased 140 to 150 percent.
Fitting with this evidence, Dental Health Partners treats many adult patients who grew up in rural areas without fluoridated water. Many of them have cavities, crowns, and other dental appliances, while their counterparts from town often have fewer issues.
Want to know the fluoride levels in your water?
Dental Health Partners can provide you with a free test kit to send to the Iowa Hygienic Lab. There is a small fee for the test. The state sends the results to our office as well as your home. Knowing the fluoride levels in your water source helps your dentists provide personalized recommendations for your family’s dental care.
In addition, see fluoride related data for Iowa’s groundwater and public water systems.
The health benefits of using very small amounts of sodium fluoride in toothpaste and water supplies have been proven in research for many years. Fluoride use helps harden teeth. In doing so, its application can reduce cavities significantly over a person’s lifetime. This can save families hundreds if not thousands of dollars per child.
Fluoride FAQ
What is the fuss about fluoridated water?
For over 80 years, municipalities in the United States have added a tiny amount of fluoride to the water supplies. Here in Iowa, Cedar Rapids and the surrounding communities benefit from fluoridated water. While people prefer to have control over what they ingest, the proven benefits of fluoridated water are undeniable. When cities in Canada stopped fluoridating their water, children had a 40 to 50 percent higher rate of cavities than kids in cities that continued fluoridation. Within 10 years, it was clear that stopping fluoridation weakened children’s teeth and caused an alarming increase in cavities.
Are there any proven safety concerns with fluoride?
No, we are not aware of any research studies that have definitively proven any of the claims that fluoride is bad for you. That includes claims about it negatively affecting IQ, the gut, and so on. It is important to remember to pay attention to evidence-based research only. Also keep in mind that research “reviews” look at other research, so they are not conducting their own research study. Instead, they review other research papers and consolidate that information. Reviews can be very selective in order to manipulate conclusions that support their beliefs.
What happens if you use too much fluoride?
It is difficult to use too much fluoride because the amounts in over-the-counter products are so small. However, if too much fluoride is used, the biggest downside is that white spots can form on the teeth. If you are concerned about discoloration of teeth, ask Dr. Paula or Dr. Ashley.
Where can I find evidence-based research about fluoride?
The American Dental Association provides background and summaries of dental research as well as dental best practices. Dental Health Partners recommends starting there for the scientific approach to dental treatment and oral care. The ADA recently reaffirmed its support for community water fluoridation.
