Cavities used to be a fact of life. But over the past few decades, tooth decay has been reduced dramatically. The key reason: Fluoride. Research has shown that it reduces cavities between 20 - 40 percent in children, and 15 - 35 percent in adults. It also helps repair the early stages of tooth decay even before the decay becomes visible.

Unfortunately, there are many people who continue to be on a "crusade" to remove Fluoride from the list of the most valuable public health measures of the last century. They use questionable science and misleading interpretations to scare the public about fluoride and water fluoridation. Doctor's Chuck and Lynda have never seen any credible science that would preclude them recommending Fluoride for their friends, family or patients.

The bottom line is this: There may be a very remote chance of ill effects from exposure to Fluoride, but the obvious benefits far out-weigh the rare drawbacks.

In fact, drugs that are as indispensable as penicillin, insulin and aspirin have a tiny chance of fatal consequences, but we do not take them off the market because the benefits far out-weigh the possible draw-backs. If we applied the standards suggested by the anti-Fluoride activists to our common medicines, most of them would not be available today.

Your child will have an entirely different dental future as a teen and adult if you make sure that they are getting regular Fluoride exposure between the age of 1 and 14 years of age. Your job is to inform yourself completely, be skeptical of the claims from the anti-Fluoride activists, weigh the benefits against the possible drawbacks and make the best choice for your children.

To help you learn more about the important oral health benefits of fluoride, the American Dental Association (ADA) has prepared some information....

Fluoride when added to community water supplies, is the single most effective public health measure we have to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health for a lifetime. Also, products containing fluoride stop the growth of newly formed cavities AND can prevent formation of cavities on the roots of teeth. The U.S. Public Health Service completed an extensive study of the benefits and risks of fluoride. Their report concluded that "optimal fluoridation of drinking water does not pose a detectable cancer risk to humans." The report went on to say that fluoride's "benefits are great and easy to detect."

It benefits people of all ages. For example, when children are young and their teeth are still forming, fluoride works by making tooth enamel harder and more resistant to the acid that causes tooth decay. In fact, studies indicate that people who drink optimally fluoridated water from birth will experience up to 40 percent less decay over their lifetimes. For adults, the benefits are just as great. Fluoride helps repair the early stages of tooth decay even before they become visible in the mouth, a process known as remineralization. And for older adults who experience problems with root caries (decay along the gumline), fluoride has been effective in decreasing this condition.

For children who have well water or who live in fluoride deficient areas, taking a fluoride supplement each day is an effective alternative method for prevention of tooth decay. Physicians or dentists can prescribe the correct amount of fluoride drops for infants and fluoride tablets for older children. Fluoride drops may be placed directly into the infant's mouth with a dropper or they may be added to juice or other liquid consumed by the infant. The tablets are chewed or dissolved in the mouth and the resulting solution swished between the teeth for one minute before swallowing. Used in this manner, fluoride tablets benefit the teeth already present in the mouth (topical benefits), as well as the teeth that are still developing in the jaws (systemic benefits). The greatest effectiveness occurs if fluoride supplements are taken each day from infancy through the teen years. Daily use of fluoride supplements at home is recommended for highly motivated families who have dentists or physicians prescribe it to them. Conscientious daily use of fluoride supplements from birth can provide protection against tooth decay equivalent to that provided by optimally fluoridated drinking water.