The use of fluoride in dental care has risen and fallen over the years. While forty years ago fluoride was not used regularly during dental cleanings, now its an essential part of your visit to your dentist.
Fluoride research began as early as 1901. It began with a young dentist who noticed that many people had brown stains on their teeth and that it started as early as childhood. Knowing the importance of the development of teeth in children, the dentist looked for a cause and treatment for this epidemic. After further observations he noticed that this problem affected people in certain areas and didn’t impact people in others. This lead him to study the water quality which eventually lead him to find that the water sources with fluoride did not cause the brown stains and tooth decay.
Since then, fluoride has become a key part of preventative care practices. It protects your teeth against cavities that can lead to pain, painful procedures, and even tooth decay. This is incredibly important because its difficult to maintain tooth enamel and keep teeth healthy without it. Between drinking coffee in the morning, eating sweets, and drinking sugary drinks, many adults find that avoiding foods and drinks that can cause cavities is nearly impossible.
As a result, finding at-home and in-office dental care to clean teeth and prevent their decay is very important. That’s where the widespread use of fluoride comes in.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps build teeth and prevent cavities. For years, fluoride has been used in dental offices, in toothpaste, mouthwash, and other dental treatments. By fighting bacteria that harm teeth and gums and supporting tooth enamel, this mineral has been instrumental in reducing cavities.
Tooth enamel easily wears down over time so it’s important to protect it in any way possible. Fluoride offers a barrier that prevents the deterioration of tooth enamel.
Since it has become more popular, the number of cavities that dentists see in their patients has decreased substantially, so why does the use of fluoride continue to rise and fall?
There are dentists who don’t believe in using fluoride. There are questions about whether or not fluoride is really safe, even if it’s really necessary to use. Further research has shown that there are toxic components to fluoride. As a result, alternatives have been developed.
While many dentists still use fluoride treatments in their practice, and many fluoride products line the shelves in stores, there are arguments against its use. Studies have shown that the fluoride in toothpaste actually breaks down teeth in order to allow the fluoride to reach deeper into the teeth. So while it’s solving and preventing some problems, it’s still potentially causing unnecessary damage to the teeth.
If you’re interested in protecting your teeth without using fluoride, dentists recommend following a strict, healthy diet, rinsing your mouth after eating and drinking, and looking for toothpaste without fluoride.
If you’re interested in learning more about fluoride and how it impacts your teeth, reach out to our office. We are happy to answer your questions and address any concerns that you might have.