Fluoride in water is regulated for dental and overall wellbeing
Fluoride, such as sodium fluoride, fluorosilicic acid, or sodium fluorosilicate, is placed in water supply to reduce the onset of tooth decay and cavities. The World Health Organisation supported a safe level of fluoride for public use in water because of the amount of cavities in adults and children of industrial countries. The process is called water fluoridation.
Our bodies need fluoride for good health and for oral and physical wellbeing. Dentists in Essex also suggest drinking water to regulate fluoride action in the body because water is a main source of fluoride. Toothpaste may contain fluoride but toothpaste isn’t designed to be swallowed. Tooth loss and tooth extraction in poverty stricken areas is high, and is a risk to all. Tooth decay may not cause death, but can seriously affect people’s ability to work because of pain, eat, speak, look, and to be accepted by others in their community as a result. Decaying of teeth is also considered to be an infectious disease because of the knock-on effects to the rest of the human body.
Some people don’t agree with water fluoridation because children can be affected by fluoride when their teeth are developing, especially between the ages and one and four, and this can lead to more dental jobs being required. The condition is called dental fluorosis where the teeth are stained or become cracked. However, fluorosis is only a concern when fluoride levels set around 0.4 mg/L are over the regulated level to 1 mg/L. Fluoride levels in water are also present naturally at low or high amounts, so that is why it is also important for levels to be controlled.