What is the deal with fluoride?

Where is fluoride found?

Fluoride is a common mineral that is found in many different sources, such as seafood, fruits, and coffee/tea.  It is found naturally in water, and a small amount is often added to tap water around the U.S for health reasons. You may ask, “why would the government add a mineral to my water?” 

What is fluoride for?

The CDC and American Dental Association agree that low concentrations of fluoride in drinking water are extremely safe and can lead to a dramatic decrease in dental cavities, especially in children. The current recommendation is 0.7-1.0 parts of fluoride per million parts of water. That is a hard number to wrap one’s head around, so to show how truly small that number is, some analogies for 1.0 part per million (ppm) are:

-1 inch in 16 miles

-1 cent in $10,000 

-1 minute in two (2) years

Is fluoride harmful?

You may have heard some claims that fluoride is harmful, and just like with most things, it can be harmful in excess amounts. Fortunately, those levels of fluoride toxicity are far and above what is consumed through diet, fluoridated drinking water, and even fluoride supplements.

What happens without enough fluoride?

Not being exposed to fluoride puts individuals at an increased risk for dental decay.  Studies have shown that children who consumed  water with fluoride from birth had fewer cavities. Often, individuals consuming water exclusively from a well or bottled water do not get an adequate level of fluoride and may benefit from fluoride supplements like mouth rinses or prescription toothpastes.

Please talk to your dentist or hygienist about your specific situation to see if that might be right for you.