Fluoride is often added to toothpaste. Fluoride is also often added to drinking water. Fluoride may improve tooth health because it can decrease the demineralisation rate of tooth enamel. However, the mechanism for this has been misunderstood and in this regard fluoride use is problematic. Studies show that fluoride can inhibit dental caries and this is because when fluoride is present as a solution in the mouth, it decreases the dissolution and demineralisation of tooth enamel and this allows the remineralisation to occur. Some claim that this is because fluoride is essential to toothe health and because the fluoride itself is somehow incorporated into the enamel, making it stronger and less prone to dissolution. However, the real reason for its benefit is that fluoride is a poison. Fluoride kills cells, and when present in the oral cavity at concentrations below parts per million. Fluoride in the parts per million range is known to have significant antimicrobial effects on a range of dental caries causing microorganisms.
Plants contain a range of antimicrobial phytochemicals and these may be just as effective as fluoride. They also reduce the risk associated with fluoride poisoning. For example, the thymil added to Euthymol fluoride free toothpaste has antimicrobial properties.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself
RdB
