It’s amazing how many things are good for you and then are suddenly bad for you. In many cases, they become good for you again. Dark chocolate certainly falls into this category, as does fluoride.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a natural mineral and it’s found in abundance across the planet. It naturally infiltrates various elements of the food and water table and you probably consume it without knowing it.
Today, many water treatment plants add fluoride to the water; You’ll also find it added to many kinds of toothpaste and a variety of other health products.
The reason it is seen to offer health benefits dates back to the early part of the 20th century. At this time scientists noticed that a specific community had stronger teeth and bones than was the norm for the country. The research discovered a mineral naturally occurring in their water supply. The mineral was fluoride and tests showed that it strengthens bones and teeth.
Since then it has been added to water and a variety of other products.
It should be noted that toothpaste with fluoride isn’t a substitute for regular dental appointments with a reputable dentist, such as this dentist Arana Hills.
Fluoride Today
More recent research suggests that there is a link between fluoride, consumption, and an increased risk of cancer. This is obviously concerning.
However, the majority of the research was completed on lab animals which showed an increased rate of osteosarcoma in male rats. This survey found no comparable results in mice. This means that, although the results have been used to link cancer and fluoride, the findings are, at best, inconclusive.
It’s worth noting that scientists have since completed an array of retrospective studies to assess the effects of fluoride and its association with cancer. The result was very little indication of a link. Obviously, there were some cases of cancer but there are also an array of variables that make it impossible to conclude fluoride increases the risk of cancer.
The Way Forward
If you’re concerned about whether fluoride is safe or not then the best approach is to use fluoride toothpaste. This can help to strengthen your teeth and bones without any risk of ingesting the mineral.
If you adopt this approach you’ll have to check if your local water board adds fluoride or not; If they do you’ll want a good filtration system to remove it.
Dental Fluorosis
While research doesn’t indicate a definitive link between fluoride consumption and cancer or any other disease, it has been found that excessive consumption of fluoride as a child can lead to fluorosis.
This happens while children‘s teeth are developing and results in fine lines across the teeth or small flecks of yellow. In more severe cases it can discolour the entire tooth and the tooth will look pitted. But, even if your child suffers from this, it won’t make their teeth any weaker or have any other effect on their health.
In short, using fluoride is still a good choice.
