Flouride still key to preventing decay

  • Published
  • By Capt. Lenny W. Arias
  • 355th Dental Squadron
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  You've probably heard the saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," but how do you keep the dentist away? By maintaining good oral health. Keping your teeth free of decay is paramount in this overall effort. How do you keep your teeth free of decay? The American Dental Association has several recommendations to help people maintain good oral heath and to keep their teeth decay-free.

- Brush twice a day for at least two minutes
- Use fluoride-containing toothpaste
- Floss at least once a day
- Use a mouth rinse daily
- Eat balanced meals and limit snacks

The use of fluoride is an especially important means of keeping the teeth strong and free of decay. Studies show that water fluoridation can reduce dental decay by as much as 20 to 40 percent. The ADA calls fluoridation "Nature's way to prevent tooth decay." Fluoride incorporates into the tooth enamel and makes teeth more resistant to decay.

How do we get this much needed fluoride? Not only do we get it in our fluoridated toothpaste, fluoridated mouthwash, and in our foods, but our community water supply may contain the fluoride that we need. Supplements in the form of drops or pills are sometimes recommended for infants and children. It can also be obtained from fluoridated bottled water.
However, fluoridation of our community water supplies has proven the single most effective public health measure to prevent dental decay.

Unfortunately, the concentration of fluoride in our water supplies varies widely depending on which well we are supplied by. The Tucson Water 2006 Water Quality Report found that the fluoride concentration ranges from 0.1-0.95 ppm. To learn more about the fluoride level in your neighborhood visit the Tucson Water's company website at http://www.tucsonaz.gov/water/index.htm (Go to Water Quality - Water Quality in My Neighborhood - Neighborhood map).

Although using fluoride supplemented toothpaste, and drinking properly fluoridated water are among the things you can do to keep the dentist away, it is still recommended that you see your dentist at least annually to check for diseases other than dental decay.

If you have questions about water fluoridation or fluoride supplementation ask your dental or medical provider at your next visit.