Fluoride good for long-term dental health
A study has found that children who have access to fluoridated water supplies enjoy better oral health in adulthood.
The study, which was carried out by Matthew Neidell, from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, found that exposure to fluoride during the early years increased the likelihood of good oral health during adulthood. Neidell concluded that children who were exposed to fluoride from birth were likely to have better standards of oral health during their forties and fifties, regardless of whether they continued to drink fluoridated water in their twenties and thirties.
Neidell examined sets of data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and a water census to see how exposure to fluoridated water during the 1960’s and 1970’s affected people’s oral health during the 1990’s. The study focused on tooth loss as a guide for overall health and found that children who were exposed to fluoridated water had better oral health than those who drank water without added fluoride.
Numerous studies have confirmed the benefits of fluoride for oral health; fluoride helps to strengthen the enamel on the teeth and can even help to make enamel stronger before the teeth develop. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body but it can be worn down gradually by harmful plaque acids and bacteria; fluoride helps to strengthen the protective enamel surfaces of the teeth and consequently makes the teeth more resistant to decay.
Fluoride can help to protect the enamel surfaces of the teeth but dentists are keen for patients to understand that they must stick to a good daily oral hygiene routine in order to enjoy good oral health; a good daily routine should include brushing the teeth twice a day for two minutes each time and using dental floss and mouthwash on a daily basis.
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