You probably already know that brushing and flossing twice daily can prevent common oral issues like gum disease, cavities, and even oral cancer. However, did you know that fluoride-treated water also plays an important role in your dental health?
On January 25th, 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first town in the world known to adapt artificially fluoridated water, but the practice rapidly spread and has saved countless smiles. Continue reading to learn more about how this advantageous ingredient was discovered and how it boosts your dental health!
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in water, soil, and certain foods that is known to inhibit the growth and activity of bacteria that cause cavities. The Center for Disease Control has called community water fluoridation one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century because of its impact on the general dental health of the population.
Many health organizations, including the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the US Public Health Service, and World Health Organization all advocate for safe levels of this ingredient added to public water sources. Studies have shown that this practice can reduce the prevalence of cavities in a community by 25%.
How Was Fluoride Discovered?
Fluoridated water has benefitted the oral health of countless people over the past century, but people haven’t always had access to this resource. It was discovered by dentist Frederick McKay in 1901 while he was treating patients in Colorado Springs, many of whom had inexplicable, dark stains on their teeth.
Dr. McKay contacted a renowned researcher, Dr. G.V. Black, to discover the cause of the chocolate-colored blemishes. After six years of work, they found that 90% of children in the town suffered from this tooth mottling. However, they were shocked to discover that the stains were not due to decay; the tinted teeth were highly resistant to caries.
In 1923, McKay traveled to Okaley, Idaho to study a recent uptick in similar dental discoloration and learned that the changes began after the city constructed a communal water pipeline to a warm spring several miles away. He then found the same phenomenon in Bauxite, Arkansas, a small town owned by an aluminum plant, the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA).
The chief chemist of ALCOA, H.V. Churchill, analyzed the water and found high levels of fluoride. He urged McKay to test the water sources for the other cities for fluoride, and when the doctor obliged, he found high levels of the natural ingredient.
How Does Fluoride-Treated Water Benefit Teeth?
After learning of the good doctors’ findings, the National Institute of Health (NIH) investigated water-borne fluoride and its effects on teeth. Drs. Trendley Dean and Elias Elvove developed a measuring system and began testing various sources. In the last 1920s, it was concluded that fluoride levels of up to 1.0 ppm (parts per million) could not cause dark mottling on teeth.
Next, the NIH revisited McKay’s observation that the stained teeth resisted decay. Dr. Dean wondered whether adding fluoride to drinking water might fight cavities on a larger scale. In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan voted to add fluoride to its drinking water and conducted a 15-year study on its impact. After only 11 years, Dr. Dean announced that the cavity rate among children in the city had dropped more than 60%.
The next time you brush your teeth or sip tap water, remember that the fluoride it contains was put there to benefit your dental health!
About the Practice
At Bragg Dental, you and your family benefit from two dentists who share 30+ years of combined experience helping people of all ages build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. Dr. Jennifer Bragg and Dr. Alexandra McTier provide a comprehensive menu of services at one convenient location and can help with everything from basic preventative care to more complex procedures. They are stay up-to-date with current technology and techniques by participating in several prestigious organizations, including the American Dental Association. They take the time to learn about your unique goals and concerns, then customize treatment plans to address them. You can request an appointment on the website or call (770) 889-8420.