Fluoride… For some, it represents cavity protection and for others it can be a scary word. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral and is released into water. Today, fluoride can be added to water, oral care products, it can even be taken as a supplement. There is a lot of confusion around fluoride and whether it is good or bad. So let’s get to the bottom of it!
The Good
There is very strong scientific evidence showing that fluoride helps prevent dental decay in both children and adults. We know that regardless of age, fluoride is the most effective method of cavity protection.
Fun fact: Did you know that fluoride is a natural component of your tooth structure?
Here are 3 ways fluoride can be good for your teeth:
- It will prevent dental decay.
- It can repair small cavities in their early stages.
- It can treat dental hypersensitivity.
The Bad
Having sang the praises of fluoride, let’s talk about health concerns around it.
Dental Fluorosis
The most common issue with fluoride is dental fluorosis in young children. Fluorosis happens when children consume too much fluoride. It can show up as white and brown spots, and in severe cases you can see pitting on the enamel.
But here’s the important thing to know:
Fluorosis happens when there is too much ingestion of fluoride and only during the time that the crowns of the teeth are still developing, which is until about age 7-8. So this is basically a concern with kids younger than 7.
Since tiny humans can’t spit, they end up swallowing their fluoride toothpaste. This plus the fluoride in water can cause fluorosis.
So let me say it one more time for good measure: As an adult you CANNOT get dental fluorosis (neither can your kids if they are older than 8).
Fluoride Toxicity
Another concern around fluoride is toxicity. Again this is an issue of ingesting too much fluoride. Fluoride toxicity can have both short-term and long-term effects.
Short-term
If you ingest too much fluoride all at once you will most likely experience nausea, vomiting and upset stomach.
Long-term
There are studies suggesting that long-term ingestion of excess fluoride beyond the safely tolerated dose can cause skeletal fluorosis. Meaning that fluoride can get absorbed into the bones, increasing risk of bone fracture. Other studies suggest that excess intake of fluoride can affect the pineal gland.
Having said that, let me be very clear here. Fluoride toxicity only happens when you ingest a large amount of fluoride, beyond the safely tolerated dose and not with consuming safely tolerated dose (2.5 g of sodium fluoride for adults) and certainly not with putting fluoride toothpaste on your teeth.
But, if you were so inclined to snack on your toothpaste, you’d have to eat more than 2 tubes of fluoride toothpaste to cause toxicity. And as a dental hygienist, I highly recommend against that…Trust me, there are better snacks out there!
A word About Water Fluoridation…
The CDC (the centers for disease control and prevention), recognizes community water fluoridation as one of the greatest public health accomplishments over the past 50 years. The fact of the matter is that children are the group that can benefit the most from community water fluoridation. But there is debate on how beneficial water fluoridation can be for adults.
Over the past few years, water fluoridation has turned into a political debate. While I personally don’t have a strong opinion about water fluoridation for adults, I can tell you this. The amount of fluoride added to water is safe and well below the threshold for causing fluorosis and toxicity. However, if you still feel uncomfortable about fluoride in your water, you can use water filters. But I do encourage you to consider the pros and cons of doing so first and choose a fluoride source that you feel comfortable with (fluoride toothpaste, fluoride mouthwash, supplements and varnishes provided by your dentist, etc.), especially if you have young children in your family.
The Verdict
We know from extensive, reliable scientific studies that fluoride can help prevent dental decay in both children and adults.
My recommendation is use fluoride toothpaste. Show your teeth some love and give them some extra cavity protection. If you have tiny humans in your household, use a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste for them and help them with brushing.
So that’s the truth about fluoride. The good and the bad.
At the end of the day, make sure that you use reliable information before you make a decision about your health, try your best to keep your mouth healthy and you will have a healthier body.
Saba, RDH
References
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/f/fluorosis
Wilkins’ Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist. (2020). (n.p.): Jones & Bartlett Learning.