Well, what could be more attractive than a child who has lost his first milk tooth? Nice, yes... Unless it's followed by a few more teeth falling out, leaving behind gaps and a smile that resembles that of a hockey player.
Such a scenario may turn out to be the bitter truth in the near future. According to a massive and long-awaited study, which was conducted by the American Association of Community Dentistry in Denver, it was found that children under the age of 5 are most prone to tooth decay.
The reason is that children are increasingly eating processed food (it is not rich in fluoride), drinking bottled water instead of fluoridated tap water. The data was obtained from a study conducted by Bruce Kraska of the National Center for Statistics and Health.
Tooth Fairy
Although milk teeth will still fall out, their importance should not be underestimated. A permanent tooth may begin to grow crookedly, or there may be unsightly gaps between the teeth that are too large. In addition, adult teeth are also not immune from falling out.
The foods consumed by children today are high in sugar and other fast carbohydrates, which are known to promote tooth decay. The fact is that they interact with the bacterial film on the teeth, and as a result form acids that corrode tooth enamel. In addition, children lack the skill to brush their teeth properly, so bacteria multiply and accumulate.
At an early age, fluoride is able to penetrate young teeth and strengthen them, just as calcium strengthens bones. This is a natural process. The fluoride found in water or toothpaste resists bacteria that produce acid that destroys tooth enamel.
The US Centers for Oral Disease Control and Prevention considers water fluoridation to be one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.
The World Health Organization also confirms this. Studies around the world over the past 50 years have shown that fluoride prevents tooth decay. Do you know why many today still avoid fluoride, which is naturally present in water to some extent? People have concerns that fluoride can cause cancer, Alzheimer's disease, low IQ, and infertility.
These fears are not groundless. Too much fluoride in water, about 7 ppm, can lead to bone deformity. For this reason, the EPA has set a safe limit of 4 ppm. However, many minerals essential for human health, such as selenium, are toxic in large doses. Scientists have long established that about 1 ppm of fluoride in a public water supply is sufficient to protect teeth without causing harm.
Myths about fluoride
The Internet is the perfect place for vocal opponents of water fluoridation. While some of their arguments are valid, the question arises - is it morally justified to force everyone to take part in this mass discussion? Moreover, some of the arguments, to put it mildly, mislead us.
Myth 1: Fluoridation is banned in Europe. Firstly, it is not entirely reasonable to follow the example of Europe: after all, David Hasselhoff is a pop star there! In fact, fluoridation is legal in Europe. In many European countries, water fluoridation is not effective due to the arrangement of plumbing systems. As a result, fluorinated salt (a relative of iodized salt) has become widespread and used. In Europe, it is not customary to fluoridate water or salt; fluoride-containing toothpastes are relevant there.
Myth 2. The number of cases of caries has decreased regardless of fluoridation. This is not entirely true. Fifty years ago, when water fluoridation was first introduced, the number of diseases dropped dramatically. Many countries in Europe stopped fluoridation of tap water by the 1970s, or are still on the decline compared to countries that continue to add fluoride to their water supply today. But this decline is due to the fact that modern people take better care of their oral cavity: dental check-ups and regular brushing. These two complementary methods can minimize tooth decay. Fluoridation today is not a cure and not the only way to achieve the desired effect.
Myth 3. Fluoridation provokes many diseases. The level of fluoride in water, salt and toothpaste (according to numerous studies over the past 70 years) has not yet given rise to diseases more serious than fluorosis, leading to staining and staining of tooth enamel. The most recent argument against fluoridation, despite being biologically plausible and worthy of research, is the type of fluoride used in water today. It's called fluorosilicone, and can leach metals out of pipes and cause neurological problems. This interesting study by Roger Masters of Dartmouth College, published in 2000, still needs to be verified in multiple studies.
Disputes over water fluoridation do not stop. This is not surprising, because we are talking about adding a potentially dangerous (toxic) substance to drinking water. The attention is appropriate, and many of the arguments against fluoridation are compelling.
Ideally, everyone should brush their teeth several times a day for at least two minutes, floss at least once a day, and see a dentist at least twice a year. Unfortunately, in our developing world there are still separate points on the map where this does not happen. In such countries, the fluoridation method seems to be the most attractive.
