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FLUORIDE - Posted 11.09.08 |
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Water Fluoridation: Still the answer...
Water fluoridation is the most effective and fair way to give all people access to the benefits of fluoride regardless of age, income or education level.
Fluoride in nature
Fluoride occurs naturally in rocks, soil and the sea. In seawater the concentration ranges from 0.8 to 1.4 ppm (parts per million. It is also present in rivers, lakes and almost all fresh ground water at varying concentrations. Fluoride is normally present in the body, mostly in dental enamel and the bones. Small amounts are present in plants and most foods.
What is fluoridation?
Water fluoridation is the addition of fluoride to water supplies that are low in fluoride in order to pevent dental decay. The level shown scientifically to be best for each area depends on the climate.
How is water fluoridated?
In nature fluoride gets into water when fluoride salts dissolve in water as it passes through rocks and soil. Water fluoridation is adaption of its natural process. Fluoride is added to the water supply by feeder and pump systems that specially designed to add carefully controlled amounts. local water authorities check the total amount of fluoride in the water regularly.
How fluoride works
Tooth decay is caused by the effects of plaque acids on your tooth enamel. The acids dissolve minerals out of the tooth enamel, leaving tiny holes that weaken the tooth and get bigger as time goes by.
Fluoride protects your teeth from acid damage in two ways- 'built -in' fluoride and 'repair -kit' fluoride.
'Built-in' fluoride: during the early years of life while the teeth are still developing under the gum, fluoride can be built into the tooth enamel. Enamel crystals that contain fluoride are larger, and can resist acid attack.
After the teeth have emerged fluoride acts directly in the mouth at the tooth surface to protect your teeth for the rest of your life.
'Repair-kit'fluoride:
-can be built into partially dissolved tooth enamel before the damage becomes permanent. Fluoride is absorbed by the tooth and interacts with calcium to build new tooth mineral. The new tooth mineral is actually harder than the original enamel before the acid attack.
-makes the tooth surface more resistant to acid attack - tougher teeth.
-slows down the growth of the plaque bacteria in your mouth.
Who benefits from fluoride?
Fluoride helps protect everyone's teeth from decay. The belief that only children benefit from fluoride is outdated. Fluoride built into developing teeth helps to prevent decay and fluoride after they erupt has been shown to be of equal importance.
Fluoride benefits people of all ages. As people get older and become "long in the tooth", root surfaces are exposed. These surfaces do not have a layer of enamel protecting them, and are more likely to decay. Fluoride also protects root surfaces.
Community water fluoridation.
Wold-wide many millions of people have fluoride added to their water supplies. This includes about 13.5 million Australians - approximately 2 in every 3 people. Every capital city exept Brisbane had a fluoride water supply in 2007. Over 100 studies in more than 20 countries have shown that fluoridation reduces dental decay.
In February 2008 the Queensland parliament passed a bill to implement water fluoridation across the State.
Is water fluoridation safe?
Fluoridation of water supplies is:
- safe and effective in the prevention of dental decay
- one of the top ten most important public health successes of the twentieth century. (The Centres Disease Control in the USA.
There is no evidence that water fluoridation causes any health problems.
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