Fluoride is a mineral found in food, water, plants and toothpaste. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water helps to protect teeth against decay. Fluoride is important for strong teeth and is considered safe when consumed at recommended levels in drinking water. Water fluoridation is recommended by leading national and international health organisations.
Fluoride is a natural substance
Fluoride is not a medication. Fluoride is a natural mineral found in rock, air, soil and plants.
Many foods and drinks naturally contain fluoride. It is also added to:
- Community water, where fluoride is added to the local water supply
- Fluoride toothpastes, gels and mouth rinses
- Fluoride gel painted on the teeth by a dental professional.
Water fluoridation helps protect teeth against decay
Tooth decay occurs when acid attacks the surface of the tooth. Fluoride can limit the amounts of acid produced in the mouth and help repair any damage before it becomes serious. A constant low-level supply of fluoride is best for this. Fluoride in your drinking water is like a constant ‘repair kit’ for your teeth.
Benefits of water fluoridation
Dental decay affects the community in many ways including pain, suffering and cost. Fluoride is helpful because it:
- Helps protect against tooth decay in children and adults
- Repairs weak spots that could become cavities (holes in teeth) on the surface of the tooth
- Reduces the amount of money people need to spend on dental treatment
- Saves the community time and money (time away from work and school)
- Reduces discomfort and pain caused by tooth decay.
Adult and baby teeth need protection from decay
Fluoride can help to protect young and old teeth because it:
- Helps protect against root and surface decay in adults
- Helps protect against tooth decay in children
- Helps prevent early loss of baby teeth due to decay. Baby teeth are important because they help to guide the adult teeth developing underneath into the right place. Losing baby teeth early may result in the need for orthodontic treatment
- Helps prevent painful and costly dental complications like tooth abscess or permanent tooth damage.
Other ways to help protect your teeth
Even if your water is fluoridated, it is still important that you look after your teeth by:
- Eating a healthy diet
- Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly
- Having regular dental check-ups
- Using a toothpaste with fluoride in it.
Protecting your children’s teeth
Children’s teeth need particular protection as they develop. Suggestions include:
- Introduce low fluoride toothpaste when a child is approximately 18 months old. Choose a fluoridated toothpaste designed especially for children.
- Use a child-size toothbrush with soft bristles.
- Use only a pea-size amount of low fluoride toothpaste.
- Encourage children to spit out toothpaste, not swallow it. Don’t rinse.
- Supervise children when they brush their teeth until you are sure they can do it well.
- Continue to use low fluoride toothpaste for children until they are six years old.
- Don’t use fluoride supplements in the form of drops or tablets to be chewed or swallowed. They can affect the development of your child’s adult teeth.
If your drinking water is not fluoridated, seek professional dental advice about the use of fluoride toothpaste for children. A dental professional may advise more frequent use of fluoride toothpaste, commencement of toothpaste at a younger age or earlier commencement of use of standard toothpaste.
Dental fluorosis
Too much fluoride at an early age can cause a child’s adult teeth (which form underneath their baby teeth) to stain. This is called dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis looks like fine, pearly-white mottling, flecking or lines on the surface of the teeth; it is usually very hard to see. It cannot develop after teeth are fully formed and does not affect the function of the teeth. Dental fluorosis can occur in areas with or without water fluoridation.
Young children, aged 0 to five years, should not use full strength fluoride toothpaste if the drinking water supply is fluoridated. Avoid any use of fluoride supplements in the form of drops or tablets to be chewed or swallowed.
If fluoride is not the cause of staining of the teeth, it is not called dental fluorosis. Mottling of the teeth may be caused by other things like:
- Injury to the teeth
- Certain medications
- Childhood infections.
Water quality
Water fluoridation does not noticeably change your water. Some facts about fluoride and the quality of your water are:
- Adding fluoride to the water does not change the taste or smell of your drinking water.
- Your local water authority will be able to tell you if your supply has fluoride added to it.
- All Australian capital cities except Brisbane have fluoride added to the water.
- Boiling the water does not change the levels of fluoride added.
- Most home water filters do not remove fluoride, with the exception of reverse osmosis systems.
Concerns about water fluoridation
Some people have medical and ethical concerns about water fluoridation. These include:
- It’s unethical to add anything to community water supplies.
- A belief that water fluoridation causes serious problems such as allergy, bone fractures, birth defects and cancer.
Safety and water fluoridation
Water fluoridation is supported by leading Australian and international health, medical and dental organisations.
- The best scientific studies show that water fluoridation is a safe and effective way to help protect teeth against decay.
- There is no evidence that fluoride at recommended levels affects bone development or causes hip fractures or cancer.
- Fluoride is added to water in carefully controlled amounts. The total amount of fluoride in the water is monitored on a regular basis.
- Only very small amounts are used. One milligram for every litre of water (1mg/L) has been shown to provide the best dental benefits to the community.
Water fluoridation is recommended
The following national and international health organisations recommend water fluoridation:
- Public Health Association of Australia
- Australian Medical Association
- Australian Dental Association
- World Health Organization
- FDI World Dental Federation
- Australian Institute of Environmental Health
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Where to get help
- Water Fluoridation Information Line, Department of Human Services Tel. 1800 651 723
- Your dental professional
- Dental Health Services Victoria Tel. (03) 9341 1000
- Your local water authority
- School Dental Service, Dental Health Services Victoria Tel. 1300 360 054 or 1800 833 039
Things to remember
- Fluoride helps protect everyone’s teeth from decay.
- Fluoride is safe in recommended amounts.
- Use the correct fluoride toothpaste for children.
You might also be interested in:
Dental care - common conditions - 0 to 5 years.
Dental care - dummies.
Dental checks - 0 to 6 years.
Dental fillings.
Dental sealants.
Teeth care.
Want to know more?
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