Benefits and Risks of Fluoridation
Determination of the benefits and effectiveness of community water fluoridation should consider what the oral health of the population was like before fluoridation. It may be difficult to imagine that, during the 1940s in the United States, extractions of first molars in young children were routine; exodontia (extraction of the teeth) and complete dentures were the norm for older adults; 10% of recruits into World War II were rejected because of poor oral health, which meant those recruits did not have six opposing teeth and 40% needed immediate treatment for relief of pain.
Over the past 60+ years, numerous studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of fluoridation and fluorides in preventing dental caries and decreasing caries rates.
Water fluoridation has continued to play a dominant role in the decline in caries. During the early years of fluoridation, the primary source of fluoride was the drinking water, because there were no other discretionary sources of fluoride available, such as fluoride toothpaste.
Consequently, the reductions in dental caries rates attributed to water fluoridation were easily measurable and significant. By 1980, 98% of the available dentifrices contained fluoride. As more professional and consumer products containing fluoride came on the market, it was increasingly difficult to measure what portion of the caries reduction was attributable solely to water fluoridation. However, the impact of fluoridation remains evident.
Fluoridation has risks as well as benefits. Fluoride in water can cause a dental condition known as enamel fluorosis. Although the mild and very mild forms of fluorosis may be so minimally apparent that individuals may not even realize their teeth are effected, moderate and severe forms of fluorosis result in stained and pitted teeth that are cosmetically objectionable.
Enamel fluorosis results from hypomineralization in enamel surfaces of teeth that have been exposed to fluoride ingested during enamel formation. Enamel fluorosis occurs in children who consume fluoride when their teeth are developing; fluorosis cannot occur once enamel formation is complete and the teeth have erupted, regardless of intake; therefore older children and adults are not at risk for enamel fluorosis.
Excessive levels of exposure can occur in various ways, such as in drinking water that contains higher-than-optimal fluoride levels, as can happen with private wells or community water systems with high levels of naturally occurring fluoride.
The Safe Drinking Water Act, enacted by Congress in 1986, established primary and secondary standards for natural fluoride levels in public drinking water in the United States.
Fluoride ingestion should be reduced during the ages of tooth development, particularly under the age of 2 years. Parents need to assist in attainment of this goal by supervising young children during toothbrushing to ensure that they use only a small amount of toothpaste and do not swallow the toothpaste.
Complete and translate the sentences.
1. Determination of the benefits and effectiveness of community …
2. Water fluoridation has continued …
3. As more professional and consumer …
4. Fluoride in the water can cause…
5. Moderate and severe form of fluorosis result in …
6. Enamel fluorosis results from hypomineralization …
7. Parents need to assist …
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