SEATTLE — For decades, communities in the U.S. have been adding fluoride to tap water to help prevent cavities. Last month, Utah became the first state in the U.S. to ban water fluoridation. Some cities in Washington state are considering doing the same.
Fluoride is a natural element found in rocks, soil, and water, according to Dr. Donald Chi, an Associate Dean for Research at the University of Washington School of Dentistry and a practicing pediatric dentist.
HealthLink talked with Chi about how fluoride works as an anti-cavity ingredient. The mineral is added to toothpaste and mouthwashes to help strengthen tooth enamel.
Since the 1940s, communities began adding small concentrations of fluoride into tap water as a public health measure to prevent cavities, especially among children.
But recent studies have gained attention showing certain concentrations of fluoride, when ingested, could cause neurological issues among kids.
“The thing I think to keep in mind with these studies is that the data that these studies are based on come from countries where the natural level of fluoride in the water is many, many times higher than what we find in the U.S.,” Dr. Chi said.
Chi said the federally accepted concentration of fluoride in the U.S. is low, at 0.7 parts per million.
“And what this level of fluoride does is that it protects our teeth throughout the day. So most of us drink tap water, cook with tap water, and so what it does is it provides that constant protection from cavities that all of us need every time we eat something with sugar in it,” he explained.
When sugar is broken down by the bacteria in our mouth, it can erode tooth enamel.
“So what the fluoride in drinking water does is it helps to repair those small micro cavities that form,” Chi said.
Chi said the U.S. concentrations are low enough to be safe if ingested, as it will pass through the body. He said it’s important to compare the 0.7 parts per million fluoride levels in drinking water to the much more concentrated levels of 1,000 parts per million in toothpaste, which is applied topically.
“So it’s much more concentrated. It’s still safe. This is the reason why I think with any kind of fluoride, whether it’s fluoride in your water or the fluoride that we brush our kids’ teeth with, the supervision aspect is really important,” Chi noted.
Chi pointed to studies that show fluoridation of the water supply in the U.S. led to reduced cavity incidence among children and adolescents.
In Washington state, water fluoridation is decided at the local level. The city of Seattle, for example, follows the 0.7 parts per million threshold.
While far higher concentrations of fluoride in water are something to consider, Chi maintains our levels are safe.
“Based on the evidence, we know that 0.7 parts per million is safe. It doesn’t lead to, you know, IQ problems or any other kind of health concerns, but we’ll continue monitoring that and I think that that’s really important to do.”
Some communities in Washington are considering a pivot in fluoridation of public water works.
The city council in Camas, Wash. recently approved to draft and consider an ordinance to discontinue water fluoridation.
The city of Lynden in Whatcom County is set to continue discussing a similar move in its city council meeting on April 21.
Original article online at: https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/fluoride-public-tap-water-supply-safe-healthlink-washington/281-9503e0b6-6e4d-4607-aaac-fd49bf41c66a