Information on fluoride and water fluoridation (2023)

fluoride in nature

Fluorine is one of 102 naturally occurring elements in nature, like oxygen, carbon, iron or nitrogen. It is the 13th most common element and is found in the ocean, soil, plants, rocks and most foods Fluorine is one of the most common elements on earth and does not harm the environment. It occurs naturally in all bodies of water in varying concentrations. In Indiana, most surface and ground water has a natural fluoride concentration of 0.1-0.2 milligrams per liter (mg/L). are the basic chemical building blocks for all materials, be they solid, liquid or gaseous. Few elements occur freely in nature; Usually they are combined with other elements into compounds. In the case of fluorine, it is always found combined with other elements. When dissolved in water, each compound dissociates into its components called ions. Therefore, fluorine is present in water as fluoride ion. One fluoride ion is the same no matter what other elements it was originally combined with. There is no difference between water that naturally contains fluoride ions and water that has been intentionally fortified with fluoride ions at optimal levels to reduce tooth decay. Adding fluoride to water is no different from fortifying salt with iodine, milk with vitamins A and D, orange juice with vitamin C, or flour with iron and B vitamins.

How fluoride prevents tooth decay

Water fluoridation reduces tooth decay by 40-70% in children and 40-60% in adults. Fluoride prevents tooth decay in three ways. It reduces the ability of plaque bacteria to produce acid. It is absorbed into the crystalline structure of the tooth enamel, reducing the ability of acid to attack it. Finally, fluoride remineralizes tooth enamel that has lost minerals from attack by acid-producing bacteria. In fact, fluoride stops the decay process in teeth and can even reverse it. Fluoride is equally important for older Americans because it prevents or prevents tooth decay on exposed tooth roots. Most people are aware of the benefits of fluoridation for children. But it is also very beneficial in later life for older people and it is difficult for a dentist to treat them. Many older adults do not produce enough saliva, making cleaning their teeth difficult. Also, their gums recede, exposing the roots of their teeth, increasing the risk of tooth root formation and tooth decay. A 1988 survey showed that more than 90% of people aged 45 and over had some tooth root surfaces exposed. Fluoride remineralizes exposed tooth roots as well as tooth enamel.

Facts supporting water fluoridation

Tooth decay remains the most common chronic disease in childhood. In the United States, tooth decay affects 50% of children ages 5 to 9, 67% of adolescents ages 12 to 17, and 94% of adults 18 years and older sharp decline in the prevalence and severity of tooth decay. Medical, dental and public health professionals attribute this decline to fluoridation of public water supplies. Decades of research and hundreds of studies around the world show that optimally fluoridated drinking water is safe and effective for reducing tooth decay. Water fluoridation is inexpensive and the most efficient way to reach the entire population. Everyone benefits equally from fluoridation without the need for expensive daily procedures like fluoride rinses, some can't afford it. Fluoridation reduces pain and tooth decay; it reduces time lost to school and work; and it reduces the cost of dental care. The average per capita cost of fluoridating a public water supply is $1 to $2 per year. The cost of just one tooth filling is more than $50. Data from the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that for every dollar spent on water fluoridation, $38 is saved in reduced dental care costs When fluoride is available, customers of non-fluoridated water supplies continue to have higher tooth decay rates than those served by fluoridated water supplies.

History of water fluoridation

In the early 1900s, dentist Dr. Frederick S. McKay of Colorado to investigate the cause of discolored teeth that were common among his patients. He found that this discoloration (dental fluorosis) also occurred in other parts of the country, including Texas. Fluorosis, in its mildest form, appears as small, white, opaque areas on the teeth. While mild dental fluorosis is almost invisible, severe fluorosis appears as a brown discoloration. In 1928 Dr. McKay found that this decay was greatly reduced in patients with discolored teeth, and concluded that both the staining and resistance to decay were caused by something in the water. By 1931 others had identified it as fluoride. Then the U.S. Public Health Service to determine if there was a level of fluoride in the water that would prevent tooth decay but not stain teeth. By examining the dental status of 7,000 children who drank naturally fluoridated water of varying concentrations in four states, they determined that the ideal concentration would be 1.0 mg/L. While this concentration did not stain, it reduced voids by two-thirds. The next step was to test fluoridation of the public water supply. Grand Rapids, Michigan was the first city in the United States to fluoridate its water supply, beginning January 25, 1945, at a level of 1.0 mg/L. Before that, in 1944, comparative studies were started in the neighboring towns of Newburgh and Kingston. New York; Muskegon and Grand Rapids, Michigan; Oak Park and Evanston, Illinois; and Sarnia and Brantford, Ontario. First the children in each town were examined by dentists and doctors; then fluoride was added to one of the two water supplies. Children in Newburgh, New York experienced 58% less tooth decay than children in unfluoridated Kingston years, the difference was so startling that hundreds of cities and communities began fluoridating their water after just five years. Wayne, Indianapolis, and Huntingburg, all in 1951. Close behind were Batesville, Bedford, Columbus, Kokomo, Logansport, Lyons, Marion, Michigan City, and Valparaiso, all of whom began fluoridating in 1952.In 2015, the Department of Health reduced the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water to 0.7 ppm

Fluoridation worldwide

Contrary to the claims of some antifluoridators, water fluoridation has not been banned anywhere in the world. However, many countries use a different form of fluoridation called salt fluoridation, similar to our iodization of salt. Although salt fluoridation is very effective, it is not as efficient or accurate as water fluoridation because dietary intake of salt is more variable than water. In either case, a person's fluoride intake is adjusted to help prevent tooth decay. Countries adjusting fluoride intake in one way or another include Argentina, Austria, Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Guatemala, Germany, UK, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, New Zealand, Norway, Panama a, Papua, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zaire and Zambia. More than 360,000,000 people worldwide benefit from fluoridation.

Water fluoridation in the United States and Indiana

Of the 50 largest US cities, 47 are fluoridatedCDC, nearly two-thirds of US public water service customers receive fluoridated water. That's almost 162 million people. In Indiana, nearly 300 public water supplies and 33 rural schools are fluoridating; 4.3 million Hoosiers receive optimally fluoridated water. Many Hoosier water utilities supply water that is naturally fluoridated to optimum levels including: Advance, Albany, Albion, Aqua Source-Aboite Township, Aqua Source-North End, Arlington Utilities, Auburn, Avilla, Berne, Bluffton, Brownsburg, Bunker Hill , Butler, Churubusco, Clarks Hill, Columbia City, Danville, Decatur, Dunkirk, Elwood, Fairmount, Farmland, Flowing Wells/Indiana Heights, Fountain City, Francisco, Frankfort, Garrett, Geneva, Glenwood, Goodland, Grabill, Greenfield, Greentown, Hamilton, Hartford City, Huntington, Jamestown, Kingman, Kirklin, L&M Regional Utility, LaFontaine, Lebanon, Lewisville, Lynn, Markle, Mecca, Medaryville, Milltown, Monroeville, Montpelier, Morristown, North Judson, North Manchester, North Salem, Orestes, Orleans, Ossian, Pennville, Pierceton, Pittsboro, Portland, Redkey, Roanoke, Royal Center, Russiaville, St. Joe, Schneider, Sharpsville, Shirley, Sheridan, Silver Lake, Staunton, Summitville, Swayzee, Tipton, Union City, Upland, Van Bur en, Walton, Wa Terloo, West Lebanon, Windfall and Woodburn. It is estimated that 100,000 Hoosiers receive optimally fluoridated water from private wells. There's a good chance anyone who lives near any of the communities listed above also drinks optimally fluoridated water from their private wells.

Currently, 84 Hoosier public water supplies do not fluoridate. Those serving more than 900 customers include: Aberdeen-Pate Water Corporation, Akron, Arcadia, Bicknell, Cataract Lake Water Corporation, Cayuga, Crawford County Water Company, Dugger, Eaton, Everton Water Corporation, Farmersburg, Fayette Township Water Corporation , Jennings Water Inc., Jennings Northwest Regional Utility, Jonesboro, Linton, Lyford, Odon, Painted Hills, Paxton, Remington, Rossville, Shelburn, St. Paul, Switz City, Suburban Utilities-El Paco , Tri-Township Water Corporation, Troy , Van Bibber Lake, Waynetown and West Terre Haute.

Fluoridation Advocates

During the 20th century, life expectancy for US citizens increased by more than 30 years. It is believed that 25 of those years can be attributed to advances in public health. The CDC has identified fluoridation as one of the ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. According to the CDC, water fluoridation "benefits children and adults in a safe and cost-effective manner by effectively preventing tooth decay, regardless of socioeconomic status or access to medical care." The CDC also stated, "For any report that casts doubt on fluoridation there are countless reports demonstrating their safety and effectiveness. It is not surprising that some disagreements can arise between scientists and professionals in research and medicine. What is surprising, however, is their almost universal acceptance of the safety and effectiveness of fluoridation.” Virtually every reputable national health association advocates water fluoridation, including the American Medical Association, the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians , the American Public Health Association, the American Dental Hygienists Association, the American Nurses Association, the National Environmental Health Association, and the American Water Works Association.

The American people overwhelmingly support fluoridation. In 1998, the Gallop Organization surveyed consumers about fluoridation and found that 70% supported it; 18% opposed; while 12% had no opinion. A previous survey found that an even higher percentage of parents supported fluoridation.

CorrespondingMagazine Consumer Reports, “Of all the numerous diseases attributed to fluoridation, from cancer to constipation in dogs, none has ever been proven valid. The simple truth is that there is no 'scientific controversy' about the safety of fluoridation. Practice it is safe, economical and useful. The survival of this sham controversy represents, in CU's view, one of the greatest triumphs of quackery over science in our generation” (A Two Part Report on Fluoridation, July & August, 1978).

dr C. Everett Koop, President Ronald Reagan's Surgeon General, said, “Fluoride is not a mysterious substance. It's not an experiment. You will not be asked to approve anything based on uncertain evidence. Does everyone agree with me? No, far from it. But I have to tell you that you are wrong. I've never lied to you as a surgeon general. And the people who are against water fluoridation don't know what they're talking about.”

Dentists are constantly being asked to defend fluoridation. Had dentistry simply caved in to the demands of antifluoridation, there would have been far more cavities to treat and far more money in dentists' pockets. But dentists have staunchly supported fluoridation, knowing how important it is to public health and the solid science that supports it. After all, their families benefit from fluoridation just as much as the rest of us. No medical professional would subject their parents or children to fluoridated water if something was wrong with it.

Safety of water fluoridation

In the United States, three chemicals are used to fluoridate drinking water: sodium fluoride (NaF); sodium fluorosilicate (Na2SiF6); and fluorosilicic acid (H2SiF6). Fluorosilicic acid is a by-product in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizer. It is recovered as a vapor, which ensures a high degree of purity. Both sodium fluoride and sodium fluorosilicate are produced from fluorosilicic acid obtained in this way. Sodium fluorosilicate is made by neutralizing fluorosilicic acid with caustic soda, which is itself a water treatment chemical. Sodium fluoride is made by neutralizing fluorosilicic acid with sodium chloride, table salt. Antifluoridationists have pointed out that industrial-grade fluoride chemicals are used by water utilities, suggesting that pharmaceutical-grade chemicals should be used instead. In fact, all of the 40+ water treatment chemicals used by US water utilities are industrial grade. But they all must meet the requirements of the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) und American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards. Pharmaceutical grade fluoride compounds are used to make prescription drugs, not water treatment.