In the United States, more than two thirds of the population have fluoridated public water. Water Fluoridation is the process of adding the chemical compound fluorine to water that several Americans are drinking at a daily basis. Another important fact about fluorine is that it is the most reactive element on the planet. According to the Scientific American*, Fluoride works by binding tooth enamel; which is primarily made up of hydroxyapatite, a crystal composed of calcium, phosphorus, hydrogen and oxygen. Basically, fluorine helps with decreasing the number of bacteria that build up in your teeth. If the bacteria continued to grow, tooth decay would form and when left untreated, can lead to several consequences. Since the United States starter water fluoridation, tooth decay has decreased significantly as stated in the CDC*.
Although there are statistics that say water fluoridation reduces tooth decay, there are several researchers who are controversial about the effects of water fluoridation. In 2012, an examination conducted by the Environmental Health Perspectives* found there was a correlation between high fluoride levels found in Chinas drinking water as well as in other Asian countries around that link children to having a lower IQ. They found that the IQ difference between children who drink high and low fluoride water was seven points. Water is fluoridated in 29 of the major 30 cities in the United Stated with the exception being Portland. The World Health Organization has set an optimal amount of fluoride in public water supply of about 1 part per million (ppm). This means that 1 ppm is equivalent to 1 milligram of fluoride per liter of water. Studies have suggested that this level of fluoridation could reduce tooth decay by about 29% and has proven this is the most efficient way to prevent dental decay.
Although water fluoridation has proven to help children from cavities, it has also proven to help old adults keep their teeth. As reported by the New York times, author Donald McNeil states that fluoridation had no effect on overall bone density in the aged. This was a result that surprised many scientists because fluoridation had been shown to increase bone mass. There are over 280 million people in the world whose countries use water fluoridation. There is also no significant link that water fluoridation leads to cancer. Typically, the risk of dental fluorosis is a concern for children. This is because many children have an impulse to digest toothpaste which is why child toothpaste is solid and contains a low amount of fluoride. It is also advised that distilled water is consumed rather than fluoridated tap water so that children are not exposed to too much fluoride.
I am going to discuss the chemistry process involving the production of fluoridation water. Toxic fluoride gases are removed by “scrubbing” water sprays to produce hydro-fluorosilicic acid. Fluoride solutions are relatively predictable because of the pH range of fluoridation and in the acidic environment of the human stomach. When fluorosilicates are added to water, they are separated to create fluorosilicate ions ([SiF6 ]^2-) with two negative electrical charges. They coexist with two individual ions of Hydrogen (H+) or Sodium (Na+). When we swallow fluorine, it is converted into hydrofluoric acid. Large amounts of hydrofluoric acid will harm muscle tissue and weaken our body’s immune system. Malfunctioning kidneys result in the body retaining 90% of ingested fluoride while infants retain up to 85 percent.
This topic has certainly peaked my interest because daily humans do not know what they are putting into their bodies. Living in a big city you can tell that there is better water quality and a change in taste in the normal public drinking water. I can relate to this topic personally because I lived in New York City. Although New York City has arguably the cleanest public drinking water in the world, there are still low levels of fluoride found in the water. This topic also interests me because it has its benefits as well as the controversies as to what water fluoridation does to your body. It is also important to note that this is the most cost effective way to benefit your dental treatment versus the other more expensive ways. According to the American Dental Association, The average lifetime cost per person to fluoridate a water supply is less than the cost of one dental filling. In big cities located in the United States, every $1 invested in water fluoridation saves about $38 in dental care. As long as we control our intake of water concentration, this is the most effective way to prevent dental damage.