Fluoride

Dentists tell us to use fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash. Our cities and towns put fluoride in our drinking water. Consumers accept it as part of maintaining oral health.

The fluoride story began in the early 1900s when dentists observed that people in certain areas had unusually mottled tooth enamel but surprisingly fewer cavities. Research identified naturally occurring fluoride in local water supplies as the cause of both effects.

Fluoride as we know it today has an industrial past. Early in the 20th century, fluoride was known primarily as a toxic byproduct of industries like aluminum smelting, steel manufacturing, and phosphate fertilizer production.

These industries released fluoride waste into the environment, which led to health issues in nearby populations, ranging from bone disease in livestock to mottled teeth and skeletal fluorosis in people.

Rather than pay for expensive waste disposal, these industries found a solution: rebrand fluoride as a cavity-fighting mineral based on the properties of naturally occurring fluoride.

In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first American city to add fluoride to its municipal water. Fluoride was incorporated into toothpaste in the 1950s, with Crest leading the way.  

For water fluoridation, the main compounds [sodium fluoride, sodium fluorosilicate, and fluorosilicic acid] are often byproducts of phosphate fertilizer manufacturing.

In dental products, you will typically find sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, and acidulated phosphate fluoride.

The fluoride concentration varies dramatically between products. Drinking water is typically fluoridated at 0.7 parts per million [ppm], while toothpastes contain around 1,000-1,500 ppm, and professional dental treatments may contain 5,000-23,000 ppm.

While the proponents of fluoride claim that it helps with remineralization of teeth and development of stronger enamel, we must look further to determine the risks.

The research is mixed as to whether fluoride contributes to dental health or not. Some experts swear by it and others claim that fluoride has no beneficial effects at all.

For our purposes here, let us ask if dental health is more related to wholesome diet and oral hygiene than to a chemical additive in our water and toothpaste.

Let us ask if the long-term health consequences of fluoride exposure are worth the potential of fewer cavities. Here are some examples for consideration:

Here are a few suggestions to help you reduce or eliminate fluoride consumption.