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Knowing the cause is half the battle in fighting bad breath, and the best weapon you have is good oral hygiene.
The addition of fluoride in drinking water has been a topic of debate since it was first put into practice about half a century ago. The issue was raised again since Portland, Ore, the largest city in the US to not have fluoride in its drinking water, decided to implement fluoridation in the beginning of 2014.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps prevent dental cavities and strengthens tooth enamel.
Fluoride can be found almost all naturally occurring water supplies, however their levels are too low to prevent tooth decay. Scientist began testing whether altering the concentration of fluoride in the water supply would benefit the overall dental health of communities about 70 years ago.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dental scientists in the 1930’s noted that the severity of tooth decay was higher among those people whose water supply did not contain higher levels of natural fluoride. In 1945, the city of Grand Rapids in Michigan became the first to add fluoride to its municipal water supply.
According to the CDC, presently, over 200 million people in America live in communities with fluoride in their water supply.
Studies indicate that fluoridation reduces tooth decay by approximately 25%. The CDC even named water fluoridation one of the Ten Greatest Public Health Inventions of the 20th Century. Over the years, sources of fluoride have increased and can now be found in dental products such as mouthwash, toothpaste, prescription fluoride supplements, as well as professionally applied sources such as gels and varnish.
Prior to 2010, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S Department of Health recommendation of the fluoride level in drinking water ranged between 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams. The current recommendation has been lowered to 0.7 milligrams.
Critics of fluoridation claim that the addition to fluoride to drinking water is unnecessary and may result in adverse health conditions –one of the most common being fluorosis, which is caused by too much of fluoride. More studies have suggested a link between excess fluoride and brain damage, cancer and fractures. However, there has been no indication of clear associations.
The American Dental Association states that the current fluoride recommendation should produce an effective level of fluoride in water supplies to continue to minimize tooth decay in both children and adults. That being said, the above mention health concerns regarding fluoridation can be disconcerting. Who better than our professionals, Dr. Evelina Tolchinsky, DDS and Dr. Inna Trogan DDS at Signature Smile & Cosmetic Dentistry to address your concerns about fluoridation? Our dentists have served the residents of Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Dumbo, and all of our other surrounding communities for years.
We are located in the heart of beautiful Brooklyn Heights at 100 Pineapple Walk, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Dr. Inna Trogan – DDS is experienced in cosmetic dentistry, periodontics, and general dentistry. An active member of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Dental Association, Dr. Trogan continuously stays up-to-date on the latest state-of-the-art technologies and advances in dentistry. She takes personal pride in providing courteous and high quality professional treatment for all of her patients’ dental care needs.
Our dentists have served the residents of Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, DUMBO, and all of our other surrounding communities for years. They can be reached by phone, 718.246.5677 or at their office in 100 Pineapple Walk, Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201. You can also book an appointment online.
