Fluoride and its Dental Benefits

Toothpaste, whether we use it as a paste, gel or powders, can help us prevent gingivitis, bad breath, dry mouth and many other oral diseases. Everyone who has used toothpaste might have notice this ingredient in it: Fluoride. However, what is Fluoride? After conducting an investigation this is what we discover.

What is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a natural mineral that can be found in food or drinks and can helps to fight tooth decay. The amount of fluoride found in food or water will vary from area to area. The mineral can greatly help and improve your dental health by strengthening the tooth enamel, making it more resistant to tooth decay. Fluoride is so effective that it can even reduce the amount of acid that bacteria in our teeth produce. Preventing plaque build-up, remember plaque is a thin, sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth.

For more information, we invite you to read our post: Gum Disease

Where can I find Fluoride?

As mention, fluoride is naturally found in many foods and in water supplies. If the area where you live lacks fluoride, your local water supplier will add fluoride to the drinking water. Having 0.7 to 1.2 parts of fluoride for every million parts of water (0.7ppm to 1.2ppm) in our diet has proven to have the best effects for our health.

Toothpaste – Fluoride

Today, most toothpaste contain fluoride and the amount of fluoride in them will vary depending on the brand, yet its amount is usually enough to reduce and prevent tooth decay. In areas where water suppliers added fluoride, fluoride toothpaste will give you extra protection.

FACT: Water Fluoridation has been proven to tooth decay by 40% - 60%.

If you are a parent, Sani Dental Group advices you to supervise your children's brushing, only use a pea-sized of toothpaste until they are about 7 years old.

Is Fluoride Safe?

After many years of research, the scientific conclusion is that fluoride toothpaste and fluoridated water, salt or milk can greatly benefit your dental health, preventing or reducing tooth decay. No harmful side effects to your general health have been reported. At the moment, studies have not found any evidence that fluoride added to water causes any harm to us.
In the USA, over half off the population have fluoridated water supplies, this has led to improved levels of dental health and many other health benefits.

Side Effects to Fluoride
The only side effect caused by fluoride is having too much of it when the teeth are developing. This side effects usually happen in children 7 years or younger and can also happen when small children swallow toothpaste.