Hogwash but Interesting end piece on who is fluoridated
FLUORIDE SIDE EFFECTS
Q. My dentist insists that his patients use a fluoride mouthwash at night to minimise tooth decay. The taste is unpleasant and the practice feels unhealthy for the mouth, even if it benefits the teeth. Are there any recognised side effects of using a fluoride mouthwash?
A. Fluoride makes the teeth more resistant to decay. For children, whose teeth are still developing, fluoride supplements, either in the water supply or by drops or tablets, help to provide long-term resistance to decay. Once the teeth are formed, it is more difficult to benefit from the effects of fluoride. But fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash do help to keep adult teeth decay-resistant. The most important side effect of fluoride occurs if children take too much of it. This can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which causes white specks and brown discoloration on the teeth. There are no recognised side effects of fluoride mouthwash, as long as you use it according to the manufacturer's instructions. It is not unhealthy for the mouth, and the unpleasant taste may be due to the other constituents of the mouthwash, rather than the fluoride.
Have you tried another brand to see if it is more palatable? Unless your teeth are particularly decay-ridden, the benefits of using a fluoride mouthwash may not be substantial, particularly if you are already using a fluoride toothpaste every day.
To find out how much fluoride is present in your local water supply, go to the website of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ( www.defra.gov.uk) and search for "fluoride". You will find a map of the UK showing local fluoride levels. If the local water supply contains less than 0.7 parts per million of fluoride, it is sensible to give children supplements from the age of six months.
Q. My dentist insists that his patients use a fluoride mouthwash at night to minimise tooth decay. The taste is unpleasant and the practice feels unhealthy for the mouth, even if it benefits the teeth. Are there any recognised side effects of using a fluoride mouthwash?
A. Fluoride makes the teeth more resistant to decay. For children, whose teeth are still developing, fluoride supplements, either in the water supply or by drops or tablets, help to provide long-term resistance to decay. Once the teeth are formed, it is more difficult to benefit from the effects of fluoride. But fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash do help to keep adult teeth decay-resistant. The most important side effect of fluoride occurs if children take too much of it. This can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which causes white specks and brown discoloration on the teeth. There are no recognised side effects of fluoride mouthwash, as long as you use it according to the manufacturer's instructions. It is not unhealthy for the mouth, and the unpleasant taste may be due to the other constituents of the mouthwash, rather than the fluoride.
Have you tried another brand to see if it is more palatable? Unless your teeth are particularly decay-ridden, the benefits of using a fluoride mouthwash may not be substantial, particularly if you are already using a fluoride toothpaste every day.
To find out how much fluoride is present in your local water supply, go to the website of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ( www.defra.gov.uk) and search for "fluoride". You will find a map of the UK showing local fluoride levels. If the local water supply contains less than 0.7 parts per million of fluoride, it is sensible to give children supplements from the age of six months.
posted by Bill at
4:47 PM
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