Adults today are more fitness conscious than ever. In their commitment to high-quality nutrition and an active lifestyle, there is one element important to good health that might get overlooked. Just as exercise is a vital component of any physical fitness program, fluoride plays an important role in oral health.
Cavities are not exclusive to children. Tooth decay remains the most common and costly oral health problem in all age groups. We remain susceptible to decay as long as we have teeth and it is one of the principal causes of tooth loss through middle age. In fact, a dramatic increase in tooth loss occurs among people 35 through 44 years of age. Therefore, whether you are 6 or 62, fluoride use is one of the best defenses against tooth decay throughout your entire life. Research has shown that fluoridated water reduces cavities in all age groups, including up to 35 percent in adults and seniors.
Fluoride works on the tooth structure in reversing the early stages of tooth decay by promoting the remineralization of enamel. In this process, fluoride increases the enamel intake of calcium and phosphorus to repair weakened spots. As the gums recede with age or as a result of periodontal (gum) disease, the newly exposed tooth root surfaces become vulnerable to acid attack. Fluoride inhibits the development of cavities on these surfaces as well, a benefit especially important to older adults.
Research shows that tooth decay remains a threat into later years and that the incidence of decay will increase as today’s baby-boom population ages. As the older population in America grows, and as more people keep their natural teeth for longer periods of time, decay will remain a significant health problem.
Fluoridated water is the most practical and cost-effective source of fluoride. One study showed a 31% reduction of dental disease in adults with a continuous lifetime exposure to fluoridated water as compared to adults with no exposure to water fluoridation. By preventing tooth decay, fluoridation helps prevent needless infection, pain, suffering and loss of teeth and saves significantly on dental treatment costs. Also, fluoridation conserves natural tooth structure by preventing the need for initial fillings and replacement fillings.
Currently only 144 million Americans (62% of the United States population) on public water supplies receive fluoridated water containing protective levels of fluoride. That percentage is increasing, but San Diego's drinking water is not yet fluoridated. In most areas of the city and county, the natural fluoride level is 0.3-0.4 parts per million--approximately 1/2 of what is needed for effective protection.
For more information, Please Call: The San Diego Fluoridation Coalition (619) 444-6463
This dental health column brought to you by The San Diego County Dental Society and the American Dental Assoc.