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What is Fluoride, Anyway?

While you may have heard your dentist talk about the importance of brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, we wanted to break down some of the common myths about our favorite cavity-fighting superhero. First things first, what is fluoride?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral most known for helping to prevent tooth decay by making the enamel on your teeth more resistant to acid containing foods and drinks. For example, when you eat candy, the bacteria causes acid to “attack” your teeth. This leaves your teeth susceptible to tooth decay and cavities. YIKES.

BUT if your saliva has fluoride in it, it will team up with calcium and phosphate to create a powerful front line defense against cavities. To put it simply, you want fluoride in your system fighting for you! Now, let’s debunk some of the common myths surrounding our favorite superhero.

Myth: Fluoride only helps with tooth decay.

Fact: Fluoride also helps bones grow and stay strong. The NIH website says that, “Some studies show that taking fluoride dietary supplements or drinking fluoridated water might lower the risk of broken bones.” While this is exciting news, more research is needed to better understand fluoride’s effect on bone health.

Myth: Fluoride can’t be found in our foods or water supply.

Fact: Soil, water, plants, and foods contain trace amounts of fluoride. The NIH says it is “sometimes added to public water supplies––called ‘fluoridated’ water––and some bottled waters.” If you don’t live in one of these areas, inform your dentist: they may suggest a dietary supplement (multi-vitamin) to ensure you’re getting the recommended amount of fluoride. If you’re unsure about fluoride in your city’s water supply, you can search this CDC database by state/county/city. 

Myth: Swallowing fluoride is harmful to the body.

Fact: Unless you swallow an extremely large amount of fluoride, either all at once or large amounts over time, your normal daily fluoride intake from food, water, and dental products is not harmful. With that being said, infants and young children should refrain from excessive use of fluoride products to keep from developing a condition called dental fluorosis, which the NIH says causes “white lines or dots, stains, or small dents on the teeth.”

For even more information on fluoride, including the recommended amounts by age, visit the National Institutes of Health website or give our office a call with any questions about treatments (804) 794-4588.

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