Fluoride- Did You Know How Important It Is?

Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that can be found in many of the foods that we eat and the water that we drink.

Why Minerals Are Important for a Healthy Smile

Every day, minerals come and go from your tooth’s enamel layer. This happens through two processes: demineralization and remineralization. Minerals are lost through demineralization when acids, formed from plaque bacteria and sugars in your mouth, begin to attack your tooth’s enamel. Your enamel layer is restored through remineralization, thanks to minerals such fluoride, calcium, and phosphate. It’s important to make sure that your teeth have access to these minerals to repair their enamel layer and prevent tooth decay.

The Benefits of Fluoride

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making your tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque and sugar. Fluoride can reverse early decay, speed up the remineralization process, and disrupt acid attacks in already erupted teeth for both children and adults. Fluoride is one of the most effective ways to combat and prevent tooth decay.

Where Can Fluoride Be Found?

Fluoride is naturally found in water sources such as rivers, lakes, wells, and even the oceans. For over 70 years, fluoride has been added to public water supplies to help prevent tooth decay. Drinking water with fluoride offers the same kind of benefits that you would receive from drinking milk fortified with Vitamin D or eating bread enriched with folic acid. Because fluoride plays such an important role in preventing tooth decay, the CDC has proclaimed community water fluoridation one of ten great public health achievements of the 20th century. Studies prove water fluoridation continues to help prevent tooth decay by at least 25% in children and adults. As a result, almost 75 percent of the U.S. population is served by fluoridated community water systems.

Fluoride can also be found in other sources such as fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, and milk.

Toothpaste with fluoride has been responsible for a drop in cavities and tooth decay since 1960. Mouthwash products that contain fluoride are also available.

There is also the option of visiting your dentist for a professional application. If you’re prone to getting cavities, your dentist is able to apply fluoride directly to your teeth with a gel, foam, or rinse during your dental visit.

Getting enough fluoride is an important part of maintaining good oral health. Luckily, finding the mineral is easier than many of us many realize and it comes in a variety of forms.