Jan. 25, 1945: Fluoridation ? Better Teeth, or Commie Plot?

I regularly brushed with fluoride toothpaste all through my childhood and adult years. I still ended up with half a dozen or so cavities, most of which cropped up in my adolescent years and early twenties. I grew up on well water.

Fast forward to today. All four of my kids grew up on municipal water systems with fluoridation systems. Their ages range from 16 to 22. Between all my kids, there is only ONE cavity. One. And that was on a molar on my daughter that erupted deformed in such a way that made it very susceptible to decay. The filling fixed the crazy looking inclusion in that tooth. And believe me, they didn't get strong teeth from my wife's side of the family.

I've read all the hypotheses of the naysayers but have yet to make the correlation to reality. The benefits of fluoridation clearly outweigh any of the alleged risks. Kids today are more likely than ever to take their natural teeth to their graves and never know a root canal, crowns, bridges, or false teeth.

Fluoride builds tooth enamel through prolonged contact with teeth (which is why the fluoride treatments from the dentist is via a gel that teeth are 'bathed' in), it does not build tooth strength through the digestive system...

There's a multitude of reasons why teeth today MAY be less prone to decay than in the past. Fluoridation of water is only part of the equation, and the ability of fluoridated water to strengthen teeth if drank quickly (as opposed to holding it in the mouth) is very questionable.

I understand Europe does not add fluoride to drinking water, however there's a comparable decline in tooth decay over time to the North American teeth...

What other reasons are posited for reduced tooth decay? I'd be curious to know what other factors play a role in the reduction.

I would maintain that drinking water leaves behind residual water in the mouth bathing the teeth for extended periods multiple times a day.

Some reasons may be:

Technology

• toothpastes, mouthwashes etc - haven't you seen the marketing? Toothpaste is always new and improved! ;). Also technologies / tools at the disposal of the dentists.

Reduction of problem cause

• There's generally more 'sugar free' options around now - in foods, snacks, gum etc.
• Not certain of enamel harming chemicals in foods & drinks? This may or may not be less than in the 40s-70s era where the modern food movement caused a large shift from mainly natural whole foods to a (potentially) more processed diet.

Improved nutritional intake

• Can't speak to everyone's experience, but I know my diet is more varied than my parents who grew up in the 50s-60s. I probably have a more balanced intake which allows for calcium and other minerals and nutrients (I took vitamins regularly as a kid - my folks did not) which build strong teeth & bones. Lifespan is also increasing per generation in part because of this factor

More awareness

• Potentially this could also be a reason for societal improvements - more awareness of the benefits and techniques for improved oral care.

Those would be the main 'other' factors to consider with respect to the decline in tooth decay. As I had mentioned - Europe does not use fluoride, however, there is a similar decline in tooth decay over time, so it's more than just fluoride that's part of the cause.

OK, but (from a dentist friend of mine) the main benefit of toothpaste is that you use a toothbrush to apply it. Yes, there is pumice (or baking soda) in most toothpastes which provides some abrasive cleaning action, but she tells me the toothbrush itself provides 99% of the cleaning action and plaque removal. She just brushes with water interestingly enough. It also provides that time for fluoride to bathe the teeth. I don't put much stock in 'new and improved". That's mainly marketing malarkey. Freshens breath and whitens teeth, that's cosmetic.

My kids have never had sugar-free anything. I believe in nice, natural sugars be they from corn, cane, or beets, high-fructose or not, whatever.

If anything my kids' diet is no better than mine when I was growing up, and probably worse. The only time I had soda as a kid was when I was sick and my mom would let me sip ginger ale. My kids have had soda occasionally but we didn't let them just drink it around the house.

Better oral care could definitely play a part in it. Although, I went to the dentist every 8 months as a kid, my kids get cleanings every 6 months on my dental plan. I don't really know for sure, but the only significant difference I can find in my anecdotal research is the fluoridation of drinking water.