Each year, the American Dental Association celebrates National Children’s Dental Health Month in February with a different theme. In 2020, the ADA recognizes this special month by marking the 75th anniversary of municipal water fluoridation. The slogan for National Children’s Dental Health Month in 2020 is “Fluoride in water prevents cavities! Get it from the tap!”
Although we just began to add fluoride to our community water systems 75 years ago, fluoride is an element that actually exists naturally in water (albeit usually in very small quantities). Numerous studies conducted over the years have shown that fluoride helps to fight tooth decay by preventing the acid produced by the bacteria found in plaque from damaging tooth enamel. Fluoride can not only reverse tooth decay in its earliest stages; it can also help to prevent cavities from forming. This is particularly helpful for young children, who are often more prone to developing tooth decay than adults. In fact, statistics show that one-quarter of all children aged 2 to 5 have at least one cavity and typically more than that. Worse still, researchers estimate that half of children between the ages of 12 and 15 have at least one cavity, and two-thirds of teens between 16 and 19 have tooth decay. With statistics like that, it’s easy to see why fluoride can play such an important role in the oral health of our kids. And studies show that fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by an estimated 20 to 40%!
Although it’s hard to know exactly how many communities have fluoridated water, the Center for Disease Control estimates that as of 2016 just over 66% of the US population is drinking fluoridated tap water. Those statistics vary somewhat from state to state, but there’s no doubt that fluoride helps fight tooth decay, and that many of us are exposed to it every time we pour a glass of water from the tap.
Your dentist can provide you with more information about the optimum levels of fluoride your child should be exposed to for optimum oral health. And there are other good sources of fluoride that can be beneficial as well, including fluoride toothpaste and fluoride mouth rinses. Although most bottled water does not contain fluoride, there are some that do – just read the label to find out.
With all the benefits of fluoride, there’s no doubt that we have reason to celebrate. So this month, pour yourself and your kids a tall glass of tap water, and let’s drink to our good oral health!
