Facts About Fluoride

There are numerous benefits of fluoride.

When added to community water supplies is the single most effective public health measure we have to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health for a lifetime. It also heals newly formed cavities and can prevent the formation of cavities on the roots of teeth.

Fluoride is available from a number of sources.

All water contains some fluoride naturally, in amounts greater or lesser than that needed to contribute to oral health benefits. Water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the natural level of fluoride to the concentration necessary for protection against tooth decay. Another way to receive fluoride is by using oral care products such as toothpaste, mouth rinse, and gel. In fact, 90 percent of toothpaste, and many mouth rinses, contain fluoride. Both systemic fluoride (fluoride that comes from eating foods and drinking liquids) and topical fluoride (fluoride that is applied to the surfaces of the teeth) work together to keep teeth strong.

Fluoride benefits people of all ages.

For example, when children are young and their teeth are still forming, fluoride works by making tooth enamel harder and more resistant to the acid that causes tooth decay. In fact, studies indicate that people who drink optimally fluoridated water from birth will experience up to 40 percent less decay over their lifetimes. For adults, the benefits are just as great. Fluoride helps repair the early stages of tooth decay even before they become visible in the mouth, a process known as remineralization. For older adults who experience problems with root caries (decay along the gum line), fluoride has been effective in decreasing the condition.

Water fluoridation is inexpensive.

Not only is fluoridation an oral health benefit, but its also economical! The average cost for a community to fluoridate its water is estimated to be less than 50 cents a year, per person. Over a person's lifetime, that is less than the price of having one cavity treated. In light of increasing health care costs, fluoridation is presently the most cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay.

Water fluoridation is safe.

Since the 1930s, hundreds of carefully conducted scientific studies have shown that water fluoridation, at the concentrations recommended for good oral health, has no harmful effects. Fluoridation of community water supplies is a valuable public health measure supported by the American Dental Association, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Medical Association, and the American Cancer Society.

Parents should monitor their children's tooth brushing habits.

The ADA encourages parents to take an active role in their children's oral health and one way to do so is to supervise their brushing habits. Children should be told to use only a small amount of toothpaste and not to swallow toothpaste and mouth rinses.

Fluoride is just one part of preventing tooth decay.

While it is true that fluoride is instrumental in preventing tooth decay, fluoride alone cannot prevent dental disease. To help, the ADA recommends brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and eating well-balanced meals. Regular dental check-ups also are recommended.

Dental fluorosis is not a serious dental problem.

Dental fluorosis is generally a mild condition unnoticeable to most people. It is characterized by lacy white lines or specks in the teeth and is not harmful to the patient's health.

Drinking optimally fluoridated water will not cause dental fluorosis in children.

Drinking optimally fluoridated water and properly using products containing fluoride will not cause dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis occurs when the natural fluoride content is too high and children drink this water when their permanent teeth are forming. Only a very small percentage of children experience this condition. Drinking water fluoridated at the recommended level will not cause fluorosis or unsightly stained teeth.

There is no link between fluoride and cancer.

The U.S. Public Health Service completed an extensive study of the benefits and risks of fluoride. Their report concluded that "Optimal fluoridation of drinking water does not pose a detectable cancer risk to humans." The report went on to say that fluoride's "benefits are great and easy to detect."

Children living in communities without fluoridated water can still enjoy the benefits of fluoride.

In such communities, dentists and physicians may prescribe fluoride tablets or drops for children to take daily, or fluoride may be added to the school water supply. Children also may benefit from fluoride mouth rinses at home or school or the application of fluoride solutions or gels in the dental office.

Not all bottled water contains an adequate amount of fluoride needed to prevent tooth decay.

All water contains some fluoride naturally. However, unless the fluoride content is printed on the label, don't assume bottled water contains fluoride levels adequate to prevent tooth decay. It may be necessary to contact the manufacturer to obtain this information.

Cavities used to be a fact of life. But over the past few decades, tooth decay has been reduced dramatically. The key reason: fluoride. Research has shown that it reduces cavities between 20-40 percent in children and 15-35 percent in adults. It also helps repair the early stages of tooth decay even before the decay becomes visible. Unfortunately, many people continue to be misled about fluoride and water fluoridation. To help you learn more about the important oral health benefits of fluoride, the American Dental Association (ADA) has prepared this informative page.

We encourage you to talk to your dentist about this and other oral health issues. Your health is our first priority and we are pleased to provide you the facts about fluoride.