Fluoridation

Addition of fluorides to water.

The addition of the chemical fluoride to water or other oral preparations for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. Usually, 1 part of fluoride to 1 million parts of water is used.

The addition of controlled, small amounts of fluoride to public water supplies for the purpose of reducing the incidence of dental cavities in the public using the water.

The addition of fluoride to a water supply as part of a public health program to reduce the incidence of dental caries.

The addition of fluoride to water as a treatment of teeth to prevent decay.

In dentistry, treatment of teeth with the chemical FLUORINE, which helps strengthen the tooth’s protective enamel and also reduces the cavity-causing acid formed by bacteria in the mouth. In the last few decades, fluoridation in the public water supply has helped cut tooth decay by 50 percent or more. The process is not without controversy; some people have always criticized fluoridation as introducing risks of unknown magnitude into people’s lives, and they cite some animal studies suggesting that large amounts of fluorine can increase the risk of cancer. The main scientific community, however, has found no convincing data of such a risk to humans and continues to strongly recommend fluoridation.

Addition of fluorine to drinking water to prevent or reduce tooth decay. The fluorine compounds enhance the ability of the tooth to withstand acid breakdown, and their use (although controversial) has led to a decline in the prevalence of dental caries in the United States and other countries. Too much fluoride in the water, however, can lead to fluorosis.

The addition of fluoride to the public water supply as a way to decrease the incidence of tooth decay. Fluoridation has been endorsed by the American Dental Association since the first community fluoridation program began in 1945. Adding fluoride to public water effectively reduces tooth decay in children, adolescents, and adults. The fluoride works its way into the developing enamel and makes a tooth more resistant to decay. The range in the concentration levels of fluoridation in public water in the United States depends on such factors as climate and the amount of fluoride naturally present in the water supply.

The addition of fluoride to drinking water in order to reduce dental caries. Drinking water with a fluoride content of one part per million is both effective and safe, particularly if given to children while their teeth are still growing: the fluoride is incorporated into the substance of the teeth and reduces the caries rate very considerably. Some parts of the US have natural drinking water with a greater fluoride content than this, which produces no ill-effects. Too much fluoride in the water (more than ten parts per million) causes staining and mottling of the teeth.

The addition of fluorides to a water supply to prevent dental caries. The development of dental caries in the deciduous and permanent teeth can be decreased by providing fluoride as a supplement in the drinking water, as a topical application to the teeth, or as a daily medication. There are several important considerations. Fluoride that exceeds the daily dose discolors the teeth if a child ingests fluoride while the teeth are developing (i.e., from birth to 8 or 10 years). If a woman consumes fluoridated water during pregnancy, the deciduous teeth of the fetus, which begin to mineralize during the fourth or fifth month in utero, incorporate that compound and become more resistant to caries. In the adult tooth, when enamel has lost mineral (white spot lesion), fluoride greatly enhances the remineralization, because it leads to the precipitation of calcium phosphate.