With more and more Americans using less and less tap water, a lack of fluoride could be a real concern. How many water bottles do you and your family buy in a year? How much is too much?
Ensuring that children get fluoride from a young age is very important. Most brands of bottled water aspire to have a ‘clean’ feel, but some lack fluoride, which is a key ingredient in tap water that keeps children from developing tooth decay.
Fluoride’s main goal is to help diminish the dental decay that leads to cavities and oral diseases. Fluoride is said to “strengthen tooth structure while also inhibiting the bacteria’s capacity to produce acid from sugars.” Although there is no current research that confirms that bottled water is a direct cause of tooth decay, fluoride filled water is said to statistically “reduce tooth decay by 25%.” If you and your family mainly drink water out of a bottle, consider starting your child on a fluoride rinse to help prevent the development of cavities. Note that fluoride rinses are suggested for children ages 6 and older.
In addition, studies have found that if you add fluoride along regular water consumption you will reduce your risk for oral health problems. Since we all consume H2O multiple times a day to maintain a healthy balanced diet and rid our bodies of bad toxins, it’s a treat for both our body and our smile.
If you have any additional questions regarding which water is better to consume, how to get more fluoride into your daily routine, or questions about how much fluoride is safe, ask your local dentist and/or set up a time to talk with them to discuss this. They may also prescribe fluoride-filled toothpaste that allows you to get your source while brushing if drinking fluoridated tap water isn’t an option.
