Drinking tap water is a cost-effective way to fight tooth decay?
Drinking tap water is a cost-effective way to fight tooth decay
Tooth decay affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC states that tooth decay, if left untreated, can cause pain and infections that hinder eating, speaking, playing and learning. The controlled addition of a fluoride compound to public water supplies is considered to be the most cost-effective way to prevent cavities and fight tooth decay, according to a study published in the January/February 2010 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) peer-reviewed clinical journal.
"Fluoride makes the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay and promotes remineralization, which aids in repairing early decay before damage is even visible," said C.H. Chu, BDS, PhD, MAGD, ABGD, lead author of the study. "Studies have confirmed the most effective source of fluoride to be water fluoridation."
More than 144 million United States residents in more than 10,000 communities drink fluoridated tap water, providing an automatic defense against the harmful ingredients that cause such a preventable oral health disease.
"Instead of drilling holes to fix cavities, dentists would rather educate the public on how to avoid developing tooth decay in the first place," said Cynthia Sherwood, DDS, FAGD, spokesperson for the AGD. "Drinking tap water to receive fluoride is safe, and it's easier on your wallet than going to the dentist for a filling."
The second-most effective source of fluoride is varnish. Varnish, applied quickly and easily by a dentist, is one of the most concentrated products available commercially. Varnishes that contain sodium fluoride adhere to tooth surfaces when saliva is present, providing an excellent fluoride treatment.
Keeping fluoride in the mouth enhances its ability to arrest demineralization and promote remineralization, and varnishes are better for this purpose than fluoridated drinking water or toothpaste. Fluoride varnishes are typically used for patients who don't receive enough fluoride from other sources.
"The bland flavor and simplicity of the varnish method also makes it well-tolerated by young children and special needs patients," Dr. Chu said.
Dr. Chu looked at the effectiveness of fluoride in specialty milk and salt products, toothpaste, mouthrinse and gum, but found that only the water fluoridation and varnish methods had the ability to reduce cavities by more than 30 percent.
With BDS, PhD, MAGD, ABGD behind his name he must be right or is he? No mention of the lead and arsenic and other heavy metals in the fluoride
Tooth decay affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC states that tooth decay, if left untreated, can cause pain and infections that hinder eating, speaking, playing and learning. The controlled addition of a fluoride compound to public water supplies is considered to be the most cost-effective way to prevent cavities and fight tooth decay, according to a study published in the January/February 2010 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) peer-reviewed clinical journal.
"Fluoride makes the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay and promotes remineralization, which aids in repairing early decay before damage is even visible," said C.H. Chu, BDS, PhD, MAGD, ABGD, lead author of the study. "Studies have confirmed the most effective source of fluoride to be water fluoridation."
More than 144 million United States residents in more than 10,000 communities drink fluoridated tap water, providing an automatic defense against the harmful ingredients that cause such a preventable oral health disease.
"Instead of drilling holes to fix cavities, dentists would rather educate the public on how to avoid developing tooth decay in the first place," said Cynthia Sherwood, DDS, FAGD, spokesperson for the AGD. "Drinking tap water to receive fluoride is safe, and it's easier on your wallet than going to the dentist for a filling."
The second-most effective source of fluoride is varnish. Varnish, applied quickly and easily by a dentist, is one of the most concentrated products available commercially. Varnishes that contain sodium fluoride adhere to tooth surfaces when saliva is present, providing an excellent fluoride treatment.
Keeping fluoride in the mouth enhances its ability to arrest demineralization and promote remineralization, and varnishes are better for this purpose than fluoridated drinking water or toothpaste. Fluoride varnishes are typically used for patients who don't receive enough fluoride from other sources.
"The bland flavor and simplicity of the varnish method also makes it well-tolerated by young children and special needs patients," Dr. Chu said.
Dr. Chu looked at the effectiveness of fluoride in specialty milk and salt products, toothpaste, mouthrinse and gum, but found that only the water fluoridation and varnish methods had the ability to reduce cavities by more than 30 percent.
With BDS, PhD, MAGD, ABGD behind his name he must be right or is he? No mention of the lead and arsenic and other heavy metals in the fluoride
posted by Bill at
9:53 AM
3 Comments:
Dr Chu ,seems very clever !! Perhaps as clever as many dentists who filled our teeth with mercury!! Our bodies full of toxic waste products to prevent tooth decay and intend to put fluoride into our childrens school milk. I take it the supporters of people like Dr Chu ,know what democracy means. From my perspective, I do not beleive I have any rights to take decisions as important as medication and inflict my choice on another person. In a adult world, we act like adults, not like overbearing school bullies who remove another persons liberty and freedom of choice. You want fluoride go buy it ! Why should I injest it because you are hood winked and have clearly done no research into toxic waste materials. As you are impressed with Dr Chu perhaps he will give you the heavy metal content of the fluorides they use in fluoridation programs.Arsenic is one of them ,if you would like to know the others then, I am more than happy to let you have them.
By
Anonymous, at 16 April, 2010
Fluoride is widely available in many forms. It should be ideally left to the individual him/her self to choose what type or even if they should take it.
However many places water is naturally fluoridated and there are minimal cons to the pros specially in communities where there is a high level of dental decay.
If we believe in democracy, then surely a vote is necessary and the majority should decide.
www.glasgowsmileclinic.com
glasgow dentist
By
Anonymous, at 18 April, 2010
Yes in many places fluoride is found in the water but the fluoride ion is attached to the calcium atom and is more stable - also the calcium is good for you. Despite this places like India have a major problem with its crippling affects on villagers who have to drink it.
The waste product they fluoridate with is not a pure substance but contaminated with heavy metals, up to 2% is allowed. 2% of the 100 's of tonnes they use to fluoridate is a lot.
Also it is not right for anybody to be treated against their wishes just because a majority who haven't a clue as to the arguments or only read what the BDA publish vote for it.
By
Bill, at 18 April, 2010
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