If you’re a living, breathing human, you’ve probably heard the word fluoride. Whether it’s pertaining to an ethical debate, your water, or your oral health products, fluoride has been a hot topic in the industry for years. However, what is fluoride, and what does it have to do with our oral, as well as overall health? This blog post is here to give you all the facts, so you don’t have to keep wondering if fluoride is helping or harming your daily life. 

What is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is released into rocks, soil, water, and the air. It is created from the element fluorine combined with the minerals from soil and rocks. It is also naturally occurring in human bones and teeth. The amount of fluoride in water varies depending on the area, and if you are curious about what it is where you live, you can contact your local water supplier. Fluoride is best known for preventing tooth decay, due to making your enamel more resistant to acids. 

Fluoride and Your Teeth 

The story of how fluoride became connected to the health of teeth is a rather interesting one. Well, interesting for me at least, as I am writing this blog post from Colorado and it turns out this is where the first observation of the effects of fluoride were discovered. 

In 1909, Dr. Frederick McKay opened a dental practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Upon opening his practice, Frederick noticed that many of the locals suffered from brown stains on their teeth. 

After many trials and tests, it was discovered that the water supply in the area contained high levels of water-borne fluoride that was causing the tooth enamel to become discolored. Because it was altering the enamel, Frederick wondered if adding safe levels of fluoride into the drinking water would have the opposite effect and actually fight tooth decay. In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan began the 15-year project of monitoring the rate of tooth decay among children after fluoride was added to the water. It was discovered that the tooth decay rate among these children dropped by 60 percent. 

This discovery opened the door for tooth decay to become a preventable disease for the first time. 

Fluoride in Dentistry Today

Nowadays, fluoride is a common component in dentistry, as well as at-home oral care. The most common item containing fluoride is your toothpaste. The highest recommended amount of fluoride for everyday toothpaste is between 1,350 and 1,500ppm (parts per million). Prescription toothpastes go up to 5,000ppm and may be prescribed by a dentist for those who are experiencing heavy tooth decay. Lower fluoride toothpaste is recommended for younger children as they tend to swallow some of the product while they are brushing their teeth.

Although high levels of fluoride can be toxic to the human body, you are not going to find an oral care product that contains levels high enough for this to happen. Fluoride-free kinds of toothpaste are a new emergence among more holistic hygiene products, however, they may not offer the same benefits. Even though there is likely fluoride in your water, it is not enough to protect against tooth decay. It will need to be supplemented from elsewhere if fluoride-free toothpaste is the way you want to go. 

Just like everything in life, finding what toothpaste works for you is a process of trial and error. Paying attention to how much fluoride is in your products and the effects it has on your teeth is an excellent place to start. If properly used in the correct dosage, fluoride can play a key role in the health of your teeth. If you are curious about your products, consulting with your dentist can be a huge help, especially if you feel like you are experiencing high levels of tooth decay.