The Fluoride in Potable Water – Its Dental Effects and Impacts
Over 70 years of scientific research provides proof of the benefits of using fluoridated water to prevent tooth decay by at least 25% in both children and adults.
An optimal level of fluoride in community water is safe and will benefit the health of those consuming it. Just drinking fluoridated water when at home or office or school is good enough for protection.
The community water fluoridation is one of the great public health achievements of the 20th century as reported by American Dental Association.
Fluoridation and its effects came into public notice when Dr. Frederick McKay in Colorado in 1901 and Dr. J.M. Eager, in Naples in 1902 noted teeth staining.
McKay followed a few cases in the later years that suggested that the water supply was the possible cause of the staining.
The physician also noted that dental decay rate was lower in areas with endemic dental staining than they were in other areas. As with many dental facilities that have seen patients, Orange County dentists have also seen the effects of flouridation.
Similar observation from Essex was brought to light by a dentist Mr. Norman Ainsworth that was comparable with McKay’s description of "Rocky Mountain Mottled Teeth".
The dentist studied about 4000 children as part of the study for the Medical Research Council.
The study observed a difference in decay rate between those with stain and those without. Those with the mottled teeth had the lowest rate of decay.
Further on H.V. Churchill, a chemist with ALCOA (the Aluminum Company of America) also became involved with the matter in 1931.
There was a doubt that the staining was likely related to the presence of aluminum in water.
ALCOA mined aluminum in the town of Bauxite, Arkansas.
Churchill analyzed water from surrounding areas and found that the one common factor to all sites was the presence of fluoride.
Norman Ainsworth was aware of the research happening in Bauxite and to corroborate what he had found he decided to compare the water supplies from the areas around Maldon in Essex with that of nearby Witham.
While Witham had about .5ppm, water samples from around Maldon had around 4.5 to 5.5ppm.
All of the above showed that there was a link between the staining and reduced rate of decay.
