Which cities put fluoride in their water?
Mar 17, 2020 · The main reason for this, Barbara explained, was fluoridation—the practice of putting fluoride compounds in community drinking water to combat tooth decay. To hear more feature stories, get the...
What happens when you add fluoride to water?
May 21, 2021 · The fluoride in the water helps strengthen teeth and makes them more resistant to acid attacks. Moreover, it helps with repairing damage caused by early decay, slowing down, or ultimately stopping the decay process. Fluoridated Water also Protects Adults’ Teeth
Is fluoride bad for water?
The fluoride gas is captured and used to create fluorosilicic acid. According to the American Water Works Association Standards Committee on Fluorides, the sources of fluoride products used for water fluoridation in the United States are as follows: Approximately 90% are produced during the process of extracting phosphate from phosphoric ore.
How safe is fluoride in our water?
Sep 30, 2018 · To minimize fluoride toxicity, the concentration of fluoride in drinking water has been controlled to attain the recommended level of 0.8~1.0 ppm . Although water fluoridation is the most widely used public health measure for caries prevention, less than 10% of the world’s population has access to this intervention, as it is not feasible in many areas because of the …
What are the benefits of fluoride?
Fluoride benefits children and adults throughout their lives. For children younger than age 8, fluoride helps strengthen the adult (permanent) teeth that are developing under the gums. For adults, drinking water with fluoride supports tooth enamel, keeping teeth strong and healthy. The health benefits of fluoride include having: 1 Fewer cavities. 2 Less severe cavities. 3 Less need for fillings and removing teeth. 4 Less pain and suffering because of tooth decay.
What is community water fluoridation?
Community water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the amount of fluoride in drinking water to a level recommended for preventing tooth decay. Although other fluoride-containing products, such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, and dietary supplements are available and contribute to the prevention and control of tooth decay, ...
Why was it important to study the relationship between tooth decay and fluoride in drinking water?
The study found that children who drank water with naturally high levels of fluoride had less tooth decay. 2 This discovery was important because during that time most children and adults in the United States were affected by tooth decay. Many suffered from toothaches and painful extractions—often losing permanent teeth, including molars, even as teenagers.
How does fluoride help teeth?
Fluoride helps to rebuild and strengthen the tooth’s surface, or enamel. Water fluoridation prevents tooth decay by providing frequent and consistent contact with low levels of fluoride. By keeping the tooth strong and solid, fluoride stops cavities from forming and can even rebuild the tooth’s surface. Community water fluoridation is the process ...
When did Michigan add fluoride to water?
Many suffered from toothaches and painful extractions—often losing permanent teeth, including molars, even as teenagers. After much scientific research, in 1945 , the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the first to add fluoride to its city water system in order to provide residents with the benefits of fluoride.
How many people in the US have fluoride in their water?
Fluoride in the Water Today. In 2018, community water systems that contain enough fluoride to protect teeth served more than 200 million people or 73% of the US population. Because it is so beneficial, the United States has a national goal for 77% of Americans to have water with enough fluoride to prevent tooth decay by 2030.
Does fluoride help with cavities?
Fluoride has been proven to protect teeth from decay. Bacteria in the mouth produce acid when a person eats sugary foods. This acid eats away minerals from the tooth ’s surface, making the tooth weaker and increasing the chance of developing cavities.
Where was the Manhattan Project conducted?
Starting in 1945, tests were conducted in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Newburgh, New York. Both cities added fluoride to their water. In both cases, the control was a nearby city that did not add fluoride.
Who is Anne Glenny?
The Grand Rapids researchers cannot be much faulted for these lapses, according to the Cochrane spokesperson Anne-Marie Glenny, a researcher at the University of Manchester School of Dentistry. In the late ’40s and early ’50s, the proper procedures for clinical trials were just being established.
Is fluorine a toxic substance?
Fluorine, a chemical element, is lethal in small doses and extremely reactive. Fluorides—compounds of fluorine—can be nearly as toxic but are much more stable. They are a common waste product of the fertilizer, pesticide, refrigeration, glass, steel, and aluminum industries.
Is bottled water fluoride?
Still more Americans get fluoride from soft drinks, most of which are made with fluorida ted water. Some bottled water is fluoridated too. In 2007, Grand Rapids, celebrating its historic role, erected a 33-foot-high powder-blue sculptural monument to fluoridation.
Is fluoride bad for teeth?
The researchers also discovered something else: Although the staining looked terrible, people with fluoride stains had fewer decayed and missing teeth. A small group of dentists began agitating to add low levels of fluoride to drinking water—low enough to avoid staining and also low enough to be safe.
What is water fluoridation?
Water fluoridation is the water adjustment process that rises or reduces the natural fluoride concentration in drinking water to an optimum level that’s effective for reducing tooth decay and promoting good dental health. It’s done to aid in both dental and skeletal health or more specifically, to reduce and prevent the prevalence ...
Why is fluoride in water good for teeth?
The fluoride in the water helps strengthen teeth and makes them more resistant to acid attacks. Moreover, it helps with repairing damage caused by early decay, slowing down, or ultimately stopping the decay process.
How long does fluoride last?
The symptoms start 30 minutes after ingestion and often can last up to 24 hours. However, acute over-exposure to fluoride is very rare and it usually stems from accidental contamination of drinking water or as a result of fires or explosion.
Where does fluoride come from?
Fluoride is common in our tap water as well as in many sources of drinking water. It’s a natural mineral that exists in the earth’s upper crust and occurs naturally in surface waters and groundwater around most parts of the world. In surface waters, it occurs naturally from the weathering of rocks and soils containing fluoride compounds ...
Why is fluoride important for dental?
Fluoridated water helps conserve the natural tooth structure hence reducing the need for fillings as well as other subsequent dental treatments. It saves money especially considering that most people around the world can’t afford the cost of having regular dental checks.
What is the maximum amount of fluoride in water?
Less than 1mg/L in areas with a warm climate. Less than (up to) 1.2 mg/L in cooler climates. The maximum upper limit for fluoride in drinking water at 1.5 mg/L. These WHO standards are however not universal, especially in parts of the world where the levels of fluoride might be excessive.
How much fluorine is removed from water?
Reverse osmosis filtration is a very effective method for removing fluoride as well as other contaminants from a home water supply. It can remove more than 95% of the fluorine content in water.
What are the sources of fluoride?
According to the American Water Works Association Standards Committee on Fluorides, the sources of fluoride products used for water fluoridation in the United States are as follows: 1 Approximately 90% are produced during the process of extracting phosphate from phosphoric ore. 2 Approximately 5% come from the production of hydrogen fluoride or sodium fluoride. 3 Approximately 5% come from the purification of high-quality quartz.
What is the AWWA standard for fluoride?
The AWWA standards for fluoride additives are ANSI/AWWA B701 (sodium fluoride), ANSI/AWWA B702 (sodium fluorosilicate), and AN SI/AWWA B703 (FSA). AWWA’s standards are prepared by its Fluoride Standards Committee, with oversight by the Standards Council, concurrence by the AWWA Board of Directors, and concurrence by ANSI.
What is the EPA's authority?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has authority over safe community drinking water, as specified in the Safe Drinking Water Act. On the basis of the scientific study of potential harmful health effects from contaminated water, the EPA sets a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) concentration allowed for various organisms or substances.
Does the FDA regulate bottled water?
141, July 20, 1979), they do regulate the intentional addition of fluoride to bottled water and require labeling identifying the additive used.
What is NSF 60?
The NSF/ANSI Standard 60 limits a chemical or product’s contribution of contaminants to drinking water applications. Standard 60 provides for product purity and safety assurance that aim to prevent adding harmful levels of contaminants from chemicals and water treatment additives. It includes a detailed audit of the production of the additive products, validation testing of quality, and auditing of all locations for logistic handling. There are also specific criteria for imported products from other countries, and in conjunction with NSF/ANSI Standard 223, there is conformity in quality controls regardless of where certification occurs or which entity performs the certification.
Is calcium fluoride better than sodium fluoride?
Some consumers have questioned whether fluoride from natural groundwater sources, such as calcium fluoride, is better than fluorides added “artificially,” such as FSA or sodium fluoride. Two recent scientific studies, listed below, demonstrate that the same fluoride ion is present in naturally occurring fluoride or in fluoride drinking water additives and that no intermediates or other products were observed at pH levels as low as 3.5. In addition, the metabolism of fluoride does not differ depending on the chemical compound used or whether the fluoride is present naturally or added to the water supply.
Does the FDA regulate fluoride?
FDA Regulatory Criteria for Fluoride. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate additives used for community drinking water (i.e., tap water), because its regulatory reach concerns the safety and efficacy of food, drugs, or cosmetic-related products.
What is fluoride in dentistry?
INTRODUCTION. Fluoride is the ionic form of fluorine, the thirteenth most abundant element in the earth’s crust. It is released into the environment naturally in both water and air. Its concentration in water is variable (1).
What is the source of fluoride?
Water is the major dietary source of fluoride. The variability in water content explains much of the variability in total fluoride intake. Other important sources of fluoride are tea, seafood that contains edible bones or shells, medicinal supplements, and fluoridated toothpastes (2).
How much fluoride is toxic to children?
In children, as little as 8.4 mg/kg may produce symptoms (30). Chronic fluoride toxicity is usually caused by high fluoride concentrations in drinking water or the use of fluoride supplements. Chronic ingestion of high doses leads to dental fluorosis, a cosmetic disorder where the teeth become mottled (1).
Which countries have fluoridated water?
Some of these countries include the US, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Spain, Argentina, South Korea, and New Zealand (17). Over the past 60 years, research studies conducted in several countries were remarkably consistent in demonstrating substantial reductions in caries prevalence as a result of water fluoridation.
Where is fluoride found in the body?
About 99% of total body fluoride is contained in bones and teeth (3) , and the amount steadily increases during life.
Does fluoride help with caries?
Dental caries is an infectious and multifactorial disease afflicting most people in industrialized and developing countries. Fluoride reduces the incidence of dental caries and slows or reverses the progression of existing lesions (10).
Does fluoride increase bone density?
Once taken up into bone, fluoride appears to increase osteoblast activity and bone density, especially in the lumbar spine (7). Fluoride has been suggested as a therapy for osteoporosis since the 1960s, but despite producing denser bone, fracture risk is not reduced.
How does fluoridation save money?
By preventing cavities and tooth decay, community water fluoridation saves money for families and the United States healthcare system. The median lifetime cost per individual to fluoridate an entire water supply is less than the cost of a single dental filling. According to the CDC, an economic review of multiple research studies found that savings for cities ranged from $1.10 to $135 for every $1 invested in community water fluoridation. The ADA reports that most cities save $38 in dental treatment costs for every $1 invested in water fluoridation.
Why do children get fluorosis?
Many people have heard that children can develop dental fluorosis if they consume too much fluoride while teeth are developing. While this is true, the issue does not typically occur due to community water fluoridation. Most often dental fluorosis develops because people receive too much fluoride from a total of all sources, such as children swallowing too much fluoridated toothpaste. This is why it’s important for parents to supervise their kids when they are brushing their teeth. Children should also use no more than a pea-sized portion of toothpaste while brushing.
Is it safe to use fluoridation in the water?
For over 70 years, the best scientific evidence has shown that community water fluoridation is both effective and safe. Despite misinformation available on the internet, water fluoridation has not been shown to increase the risk of health problems in children or adults. Endorsed by several U.S. Surgeons General, community water fluoridation offers an impressive safety track record which has earned support from more than 100 health organizations, including the American Medical Association and the CDC.
Is fluoride safe for tooth decay?
Community water fluoridation is widely recognized as one of the most equitable, safe and cost-effective steps cities can take to prevent tooth decay. Unfortunately, widespread misinformation has caused some people to doubt the safety and efficacy of fluoride in the water supply. Here’s what you should know about the benefits of water fluoridation.
Why is fluoride added to toothpaste?
Fluoride added in drinking water and toothpaste suppose to prevent tooth decay. It is believed that fluoride helps slow down the erosion of the minerals that form enamel and helps enamel remineralize. Using fluoride toothpaste or drinking fluoridated water increases the amount of fluoride that can be found in saliva, which means the enamel is constantly exposed to fluoride. The National Institute of Dental Health conducted a study to assess the benefits of drinking fluoridated water and found that it had no effect on reducing cavities.
Does toothpaste have fluoride?
The FDA regulates the use of fluoride in toothpaste. Manufacturers have to meet a few requirements before they can commercialize a toothpaste that contains fluoride. However, the FDA does not test new products. The American Dental Association is responsible for testing new products and a seal of approval is given if the product meets certain criteria. A product will not obtain the seal of approval from the ADA unless it is proven that the toothpaste can reduce tooth decay through lab tests and studies on humans.
Does fluoride toothpaste cause health problems?
Drinking fluoridated water or using fluoride toothpaste does not necessarily mean that a person will develop a health condition but it increases the risks of developing these conditions:
Is fluoride safe to drink?
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have determined that exposed to fluoride is not entirely safe. These organizations have set standards for the maximal dose of fluoride to which individuals can be exposed to in an occupational environment. Studies have also shown that fluoride is not entirely safe when used in drinking water or toothpaste. A study conducted by the U.S. Army Medical Command showed that the average American is exposed to unhealthy levels of fluoride. A Dartmouth University study also showed that fluoride is linked to high lead levels in children.
Why is fluoride important in water?
It also helps with slowing down or stopping the decay process. When fluoride levels in water are at optimal levels, it helps to protect teeth against cavities. This is why so many community water systems add additional fluoride – a process called “fluoridation.”.
Why add fluoride to water?
For example, adding fluoride to a community’s drinking water is one of the easiest and most cost-effective methods of protecting children and adults from tooth decay. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists water fluoridation as one of “ 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century .”.
How does plaque affect teeth?
Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in the mouth (plaque) break down sugars in food and produce damaging acid that dissolve the hard enamel surfaces of teeth. The good news is that there are proven strategies to prevent cavities. For example, adding fluoride to a community’s drinking water is one of the easiest and most cost-effective methods ...
Can you drink bottled water with fluoride?
If your child is drinking bottled water with less than the optimal amount of fluoride, the risk for tooth decay increases. And if you use well water or water from a private source, your dentist may recommend checking fluoride levels to determine if supplementation is needed after reviewing your child’s risks for cavities.
What is the best way to prevent tooth decay?
Fluoride is a natural element found in rocks and soil, and a low concentration of fluoride is found in most waters. Fluoride prevents tooth decay by making teeth stronger and more resistant to acid attacks. It also helps with slowing down or stopping the decay process.
Is fluoride good for kids?
Benefits of Fluoride in Drinking Water. Did you know tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease – even more prevalent than asthma? Toothaches and dental problems can impact a child’s ability to eat, sleep, learn and socialize with other kids.
Cost vs. Benefit of Water Fluoridation
- While there is no federal mandate to fluoridate water, by 2014 nearly 75% of the U.S. population in public water systems had access to fluoridated water.[4] It is widely considered to be a major factor in the 25% decrease in rates of tooth decay in the United States.[5] How Does Fluoride Im…
Controversies Surrounding Artificial Fluoridation
- Often considered as one of the most feasible and cost-effective methods of delivering fluoride to all members of the US (regardless of age, education, or income), artificial fluoridation has not occurred without controversy. The U.S. Public Health Service has published fluoridation statistics periodically since 1956, and the reports have given rise to ethical, economic, and health concern…
Are You Worried About Fluoride in Your Drinking Water?
- The literature regarding artificial fluoridation remains overwhelmingly positive–as fluoride is safe in low, controlled concentrations. It is very rare for naturally occurring fluoride levels in the US to lead to skeletal fluorosis. However, it is important to be aware of what’s in your water–because as the famous saying goes, the poison is in the dose. If you are concerned about your water quality …