Does Fluoride Really Protect Your Teeth?

At one time there was no question that adding fluoride to toothpaste and municipal drinking water was a great step forward for the dental health of millions of people. But then along came the internet where anyone could easily publish their views, and suddenly the desirability of using fluoride was a contentious issue. 
Some people claimed that fluoride was unnecessary for dental health; others insisted that its use was downright dangerous (even deadly), while health authorities and dentists maintained that fluoridation was both safe and effective. So what’s the truth?

Fluoride’s protective effect isn’t limited to children; it has proven to be beneficial for adult dental health, too, with research determining that fluoridation has resulted in a 27% lower rate of adult tooth decay.

Data derived from Medicare figures also shows the benefits of water fluoridation, with those living in non-fluoridated areas requiring 33.4% more fillings, root canals and tooth extractions than those in fluoridated areas.

 If those figures were really true a few internet bloggers would not be able to make fluoride contentious.