Environmentalists aren’t the only ones happy that the bottled water craze has come under fire because of concerns about waste and the planet — dentists are too! According to Medical News Today, the controlled addition of a fluoride compound to public water supplies is considered to be the most cost-effective way to prevent cavities and fight tooth decay, according to a study published in the January/February 2010 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) peer-reviewed clinical journal.
Tooth decay affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC states that tooth decay, if left untreated, can cause pain and infections that hinder eating, speaking, playing and learning. Luckily, more than 144 million United States residents in more than 10,000 communities drink fluoridated tap water, which provides an automatic defense against tooth decay and costly cavities.
“Fluoride makes the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay and promotes remineralization, which aids in repairing early decay before damage is even visible,” said C.H. Chu, BDS, PhD, MAGD, ABGD, lead author of the study. “Studies have confirmed the most effective source of fluoride to be water fluoridation.”
Prevention is always the best (and cheapest!) medicine. “Instead of drilling holes to fix cavities, dentists would rather educate the public on how to avoid developing tooth decay in the first place,” said Cynthia Sherwood, DDS, FAGD, spokesperson for the AGD. “Drinking tap water to receive fluoride is safe, and it’s easier on your wallet than going to the dentist for a filling.” Of course, if you think you may have a cavity, visit your dentist.
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