Essay On Fluoridation Of Drinking Water
Rosalina Hongoc
Karol Rivera
SCH3U
October 31, 2014
I.S.U. Literature Review
Fluoridation of Your Drinking Water Drinking water fluoridation is mandated and controlled by the municipality you live in for tooth health.
1) Should it be mandatory or a choice?
Fluoride has been added to public drinking water supplies around the world for more than half a century, and is well-supported by scientific evidence. In Canada, most people are exposed to fluorides on a daily basic, through the trace amounts that are found in not only consuming foods but also drinking fluoridated water. Fluorides protect tooth enamel against the acids that cause tooth decay. Many studies have shown that drinking fluoridated water significantly reduces the number of cavities …show more content…
in children 's teeth. Many communities in Canada added fluoride to the local water supply known as water fluoridation. About 45 per cent of Canadians receive fluoridated water.
2) What is the chemistry behind water fluoridation? Is it effective?
Fluoride is the name given to a group of compounds that are composed of the naturally occurring element fluorine and one or more other elements. Fluoride is a natural element that is found in soil, water at various levels. People can also get fluoride from food and dental products like toothpaste or mouthwash.
In the 1940s, scientists discovered that people who lived where drinking water supplies had naturally occurring fluoride levels of approximately 1 part fluoride per million parts water or greater (>1.0 ppm) had fewer dental caries (cavities) than people who lived where fluoride levels in drinking water were lower. Many more recent studies have supported this finding (1).
It was subsequently found that fluoride can prevent and even reverse tooth decay by inhibiting bacteria that produce acid in the mouth and by enhancing remineralization, the process through which tooth enamel is “rebuilt” after it begins to decay (1,2).
Water fluoridation is the process of adding fluoride to the water supply so the level reaches approximately 0.7 ppm, or 0.7 mg of fluoride per liter of water (1). Health Canada considers the optimal level of fluoride in drinking water to be 0.7mg/L. This means the water has the best balance between the benefit of preventing tooth decay and the risk of developing dental fluorosis (1,3). Many communities add in fluoride to the drinking water at this optimal level. Some communities in Canada, fluoride occurs naturally in the groundwater and therefore the levels of fluoride in drinking water vary across the County. If the fluoride level in water is more than 1.5mg/L, there is a risk of dental fluorosis (3).
3) Do we see a difference in tooth health care in rural (ie. On well water and not fluoridated) and urban dwellings?
According to the scientific evidence base, fluoride has a significant effect during tooth development (3). Many researches proved baby teeth from six months old until completion of adult teeth presence
in 12 to 13 years (5). Thereafter from adolescent period to adults, an optimal amount of daily fluoride essentially increases a resistance to acid attacks in the mouth (6). According the Health Canada recommendation, the maximum acceptable concentration of fluoride is 15mg/L in community water (5). In Ontario, the public health of dentistry conducted the fluoridated water study, finding out how different within naturally occurring fluoride versus mechanically adding fluoride in water effect on dental health (6). Both Brantford’s communities with adding fluoride in water and Stratford’s communities with naturally occurring fluoride in water showed no differences in reducing or preventing dental cavities (6). Both of these communities have significantly decreased dental decay prevalent comparing to Sarnia’s community with non-fluoridated water (6). Besides, health practitioners have recommended many other alternatives for non-fluoridated water communities including fluoride supplements, high potent fluoridated toothpaste or rinse, and professional fluoride therapy (4). In fact, the statistic of oral health Canada showed more than half of general Canadian populations with dental cavities, especially children and adolescences (4). Although many sources educate about benefits of fluoride in dental health, the recent statistic highlighted a low effective of fluoride usage due to diversity of cultures and ethnicities. The oral health Canada advises the daily requirement of fluoride for each specific group; for instance, 0.25 mg/day for 6 months to 3 years, 0.50mg/day for 3-6 years, 6 years 1.0 mg/day, and 13 years up 2.0-3.0 mg/day (5). People can get most fluoride from drinking fluoridated water with optimal amount 0.7ppm daily (4). The water filter system can reduce the amount of fluoride (5). The dental associations recommend check with professional teams for water filter system in order to get ideal daily fluoride from drinking water (5). The American dental associations also reviewed all bottle waters and many bottle water brands do not contain enough fluoride, less than 0.3ppm in water (4). Many factors effect on public with fluoridated water; especially, majority of immigrants do not believe on fluoride. In Toronto, every 6 out of 10 people carry bottle water and many families buy bottle waters and instant water filter. The advisor teams noticed low amount of fluoride in bottle water and many non-standardized water filters (3,4,5). In sum, although many well-educated fluoridated water sources have help many communities improve and prevent dental problems, drinking fluoridated water cannot only health indicator for dental problems in rural area because of many other co-indicators such as cultural belief, financial, and etc.
References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public Health Service reported on fluoride benefits and risks. JAMA 1991; 266(8):1061–1067.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Achievements in public health, 1900–1999: fluoridation of drinking water to prevent dental caries. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1999; 48(41):933–940.
3. Health Care (June 24 2011). Fluoride in Drinking Water, In Health Canada. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/water-eau/drink-potab/health-sante/faq_fluoride-fluorure-eng.php (Retrieved on October 25, 2014).
4. Hc-sc.gc.ca. Oral Health Statistics 2007-2009 - Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS)- Health Canada [Internet]. 2014 [cited 31 October 2014]. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/pubs/oral-bucco/fact-fiche-oral-bucco-stat-eng.php (Retrieved on October 25, 2014)
5. .Hc-sc.gc.ca. Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document - Fluoride [2011 Health Canada] [Internet]. 2014 [cited 31 October 2014]. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/water-eau/2011-fluoride-fluorure/index-eng.php(Retrieved on October 25, 2014)
6. Ada.org. [Internet]. 2014 [cited 31 October 2014]. Available from: http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Member%20Center/FIles/fluoridation_facts.ashx
Karol Rivera
SCH3U
October 31, 2014
I.S.U. Literature Review
Fluoridation of Your Drinking Water Drinking water fluoridation is mandated and controlled by the municipality you live in for tooth health.
1) Should it be mandatory or a choice?
Fluoride has been added to public drinking water supplies around the world for more than half a century, and is well-supported by scientific evidence. In Canada, most people are exposed to fluorides on a daily basic, through the trace amounts that are found in not only consuming foods but also drinking fluoridated water. Fluorides protect tooth enamel against the acids that cause tooth decay. Many studies have shown that drinking fluoridated water significantly reduces the number of cavities …show more content…
in children 's teeth. Many communities in Canada added fluoride to the local water supply known as water fluoridation. About 45 per cent of Canadians receive fluoridated water.
2) What is the chemistry behind water fluoridation? Is it effective?
Fluoride is the name given to a group of compounds that are composed of the naturally occurring element fluorine and one or more other elements. Fluoride is a natural element that is found in soil, water at various levels. People can also get fluoride from food and dental products like toothpaste or mouthwash.
In the 1940s, scientists discovered that people who lived where drinking water supplies had naturally occurring fluoride levels of approximately 1 part fluoride per million parts water or greater (>1.0 ppm) had fewer dental caries (cavities) than people who lived where fluoride levels in drinking water were lower. Many more recent studies have supported this finding (1).
It was subsequently found that fluoride can prevent and even reverse tooth decay by inhibiting bacteria that produce acid in the mouth and by enhancing remineralization, the process through which tooth enamel is “rebuilt” after it begins to decay (1,2).
Water fluoridation is the process of adding fluoride to the water supply so the level reaches approximately 0.7 ppm, or 0.7 mg of fluoride per liter of water (1). Health Canada considers the optimal level of fluoride in drinking water to be 0.7mg/L. This means the water has the best balance between the benefit of preventing tooth decay and the risk of developing dental fluorosis (1,3). Many communities add in fluoride to the drinking water at this optimal level. Some communities in Canada, fluoride occurs naturally in the groundwater and therefore the levels of fluoride in drinking water vary across the County. If the fluoride level in water is more than 1.5mg/L, there is a risk of dental fluorosis (3).
3) Do we see a difference in tooth health care in rural (ie. On well water and not fluoridated) and urban dwellings?
According to the scientific evidence base, fluoride has a significant effect during tooth development (3). Many researches proved baby teeth from six months old until completion of adult teeth presence
in 12 to 13 years (5). Thereafter from adolescent period to adults, an optimal amount of daily fluoride essentially increases a resistance to acid attacks in the mouth (6). According the Health Canada recommendation, the maximum acceptable concentration of fluoride is 15mg/L in community water (5). In Ontario, the public health of dentistry conducted the fluoridated water study, finding out how different within naturally occurring fluoride versus mechanically adding fluoride in water effect on dental health (6). Both Brantford’s communities with adding fluoride in water and Stratford’s communities with naturally occurring fluoride in water showed no differences in reducing or preventing dental cavities (6). Both of these communities have significantly decreased dental decay prevalent comparing to Sarnia’s community with non-fluoridated water (6). Besides, health practitioners have recommended many other alternatives for non-fluoridated water communities including fluoride supplements, high potent fluoridated toothpaste or rinse, and professional fluoride therapy (4). In fact, the statistic of oral health Canada showed more than half of general Canadian populations with dental cavities, especially children and adolescences (4). Although many sources educate about benefits of fluoride in dental health, the recent statistic highlighted a low effective of fluoride usage due to diversity of cultures and ethnicities. The oral health Canada advises the daily requirement of fluoride for each specific group; for instance, 0.25 mg/day for 6 months to 3 years, 0.50mg/day for 3-6 years, 6 years 1.0 mg/day, and 13 years up 2.0-3.0 mg/day (5). People can get most fluoride from drinking fluoridated water with optimal amount 0.7ppm daily (4). The water filter system can reduce the amount of fluoride (5). The dental associations recommend check with professional teams for water filter system in order to get ideal daily fluoride from drinking water (5). The American dental associations also reviewed all bottle waters and many bottle water brands do not contain enough fluoride, less than 0.3ppm in water (4). Many factors effect on public with fluoridated water; especially, majority of immigrants do not believe on fluoride. In Toronto, every 6 out of 10 people carry bottle water and many families buy bottle waters and instant water filter. The advisor teams noticed low amount of fluoride in bottle water and many non-standardized water filters (3,4,5). In sum, although many well-educated fluoridated water sources have help many communities improve and prevent dental problems, drinking fluoridated water cannot only health indicator for dental problems in rural area because of many other co-indicators such as cultural belief, financial, and etc.
References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public Health Service reported on fluoride benefits and risks. JAMA 1991; 266(8):1061–1067.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Achievements in public health, 1900–1999: fluoridation of drinking water to prevent dental caries. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1999; 48(41):933–940.
3. Health Care (June 24 2011). Fluoride in Drinking Water, In Health Canada. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/water-eau/drink-potab/health-sante/faq_fluoride-fluorure-eng.php (Retrieved on October 25, 2014).
4. Hc-sc.gc.ca. Oral Health Statistics 2007-2009 - Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS)- Health Canada [Internet]. 2014 [cited 31 October 2014]. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/pubs/oral-bucco/fact-fiche-oral-bucco-stat-eng.php (Retrieved on October 25, 2014)
5. .Hc-sc.gc.ca. Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document - Fluoride [2011 Health Canada] [Internet]. 2014 [cited 31 October 2014]. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/water-eau/2011-fluoride-fluorure/index-eng.php(Retrieved on October 25, 2014)
6. Ada.org. [Internet]. 2014 [cited 31 October 2014]. Available from: http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Member%20Center/FIles/fluoridation_facts.ashx