Regina Will be Adding Fluoride to Their Water
Last week, Regina city council passed a motion to have fluoride added to city water. The fluoridated water will take effect in 2025. Adding fluoride to our water source is the most economical way to reduce cavities, especially for those most vulnerable in our community. It comes at a cost of about $1 per person per year.
What is Fluoride
Fluoride is widely found in nature, in trace amounts. It occurs naturally in air, soil, plants, rocks, fresh water, sea water and many foods. It is also a mineral in your bones and teeth. It’s is the ingredient added to water to allow it to become fluoridated water.
What is Fluoride Used For?
Fluoride is commonly used in dentistry to strengthen enamel, which is the outer layer of your teeth. It can be “painted” on by your dental hygienist or therapist, and is also added to many dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. Fluoride is beneficial to teeth because it helps to:
- rebuild (remineralize) weakened tooth enamel
- slow down the loss of minerals from tooth enamel
- reverse early signs of tooth decay
- prevent the growth of harmful oral bacteria
Why might we need Fluoridated Water
When bacteria in your mouth break down sugar and carbs, they produce acids that eat away at the minerals in your tooth enamel. This loss of minerals is called demineralization. Weakened tooth enamel leaves your teeth vulnerable to bacteria that cause cavities. (https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-fluoride)
Why add Fluoride?
Dr. Gerry Uswak is the referral consultant dentist for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. He said that despite new treatments in dentistry, the most effective way to prevent diseases, reduce decay, and strengthen and repair tooth enamel is fluoride in community water supplies. “Incorporating fluoride into the enamel of the teeth actually makes it more resistant to the bacterial acid that is produced by the added sugars that we eat in our diet”. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/regina-council-debate-flouride-water-1.6100747
Underlying Benefits to Fluoride
Over the years Saskatchewan has often had the highest numbers of children with severe dental decay. They require surgical time because of the extensive damage to their teeth, resulting in long wait times and a huge cost to the health system or private insurers. Worst of all, of course, is the pain and trauma these children experience due to the neglect of their oral health and diet. While fluoride cannot fix everything, it can provide some protection for their teeth so they can hopefully avoid excessive dental treatment.
Fluorosis
Ingesting too much fluoride can cause fluorosis, which are white spots on the teeth. This is normally caused by swallowing toothpaste which is why dental professionals advise using only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and to supervise young children as they brush. If they cannot spit, then a fluoridated paste may be recommended until they are older.
Fluoride Should be your Friend
There are several debunked myths about results of fluoridating water that do not merit further discussion. The proof of flouride’s success is in the numbers: less decay, less cavities, and a healthier population!
