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Man Drinking From Water Bottle - Trade Winds Dental

Why Drinking Bottled Water Doesn’t Cut It

added on: January 18, 2012

At Trade Winds Dental, we’re observing a shift in drinking habits as many people are opting for bottled water over tap water, potentially overlooking a crucial component often missing in bottled varieties: fluoride.

For over six decades, adding fluoride to water has been an effective yet economical strategy to lessen dental cavities. Currently, it’s believed that children who use fluoridated toothpaste can see a reduction in tooth decay ranging from 20% to 40% thanks to water fluoridation.

Despite the global popularity of bottled water, a significant number of brands do not include fluoride, crucial for the prevention and reversal of early dental caries stages. Most bottled waters do not achieve the ADA-recommended fluoride concentration of 0.7-1.2 ppm. This gap in fluoride consumption is linked by dental professionals to an uptick in cavity cases.

Fluoride plays a vital role in dental health by fortifying teeth against decay. Therefore, those who prefer bottled water should verify the fluoride content on the label. Following a 2006 FDA policy, bottled water with fluoride levels between .6 and 1.0 milligrams per liter (ppm) can claim it may lower the risk of cavities or dental decay. This stance is supported by the ADA.

However, drinking water with fluoride alone does not guarantee dental health. Maintaining healthy teeth also requires brushing and flossing daily, limiting sugar intake, ensuring adequate fluoride, and regular visits to Dr. David R. Hennington and the Trade Winds Dental team.


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