Top 10 Pros & Cons of Fluoridated Drinking Water

Drinking water fluoridation is a controversial issue yet again, and it has been debated for decades. Admitted by dental health care providers as useful and blamed by some public health personnel for its risks, the putting of fluoride in drinking water provokes many emotions. The purpose of this article is to cover the ten greatest pros and cons regarding water fluoridation, thus providing a broad picture that will enable you to comprehend this complex issue better.

What is meant by fluoridation?

Fluoridation of drinking water is regarded as a major public health achievement because it is mainly responsible for reducing dental caries in all sectors (age groups) of society. However, this also happens to be the problem with every health intervention, which raises numerous controversies. Evaluating the point of view on both sides of the fluoridation story is an action that requires understanding the health of the whole community.

Pros of Fluoridated Drinking Water

Here are the five important benefits: 

1.  Prevents Tooth Decay: Studies showed that fluoride is known to be an anticavity agent because it helps to re-mineralize and strengthen the tooth enamel and prevent demineralization. In fact, that is the major advantage of mobile dentistry and it is specifically beneficial to the communities where the access to dental care is limited.
2. Cost-Effective Public Health Measure: One can say that fluoride in water is among the most economical measures for dental health prevention that can drastically cut the community-level outlay for dental treatment.
3. Reduces Health Disparities: Fluorides in drinking water are key to achieving health equity among different social classes who are at different risk levels. For children from low-income families whose visits to the dentist are hard to be frequent and preventive methods are expensive, fluoridated water becomes a silent but meaningful guardian against dental decay. This would mean that children from all economic strata will be able to access the prevention benefits and, therefore, ultimately attain better oral and kidney health across the community.
4. Natural Element: Fluoride is abundantly available in many of the natural water sources found in the world, so the adjustment of the fluoride levels in such water to the optimal level is ingrained in the public health improvements.
5. Wide-Ranging Public Health Benefits: The improved public health of fluoridated water can benefit social and policymakers who are well aware of this tool and its ability to offer dental health benefits for all populations.

Cons of Fluoridated Drinking Water

Things to keep in mind before you opt for fluoridated water:

1. Risk of Dental Fluorosis: Dental fluorosis, as a result of overexposure to fluoride or treatments that have been personalized by your health expert, causes changes in the structure of tooth enamel and is commonly observed in children. The other most frequent symptom of fluoride toxicity.
2. Potential Health Risks: Long-term high fluoride levels may cause multiple health problems like bone abnormalities and more concerns related to the functioning of the thyroid gland.
3. Ethical Concerns: Mandatory fluoridation provokes ethical concerns concerning the caste and mass medication without allowing the individual to make his choice of health treatment of his own free will.
4. Environmental Impact: Such effects on water distribution systems may result from the fluoride production adding to natural waterways, which may create harmful industrial byproducts.
5. Uncertainty Over Long-Term Effects: Some people are saying that the effects of having fluoride in water after a long-term being consumed over an unknown time has not studied further enough, based on that they are asking for more extensive research.

Some FAQs you must know of

Here are some facts and stats that you should keep in mind:

How does fluoride influence drinking water in terms of short-term and long-term health consequences? 

Over time, fluoride in water can lead to many forms of health problems, including skeletal fluorosis. This can mostly happen if the water contains a higher-than-usual level of fluoride. The levels of exposure proper to the morality of oral health are at the minimum, but health disorders are rarely seen in that case.

In what way can fluoride prevent teeth damage? 

Human teeth consist of enamel, which in turn consists of calcium and phosphate ions. Bacteria in the mouth produce an acidic attack on these ions adversely affecting the teeth; fluoride helps to remineralize, damaging the calcium and phosphate ions thereby additionally strengthening the teeth.

Is there a risk of fluoride deficiency? 

Fluoride deficiencies are not known to be a health condition as fluoride isn't an essential compound required for the development of the human body. On the other hand, insufficient fluoride intake is a factor that can affect the teeth more and can give rise to many cavities.

What areas of exposure are contributors to fluoride intake? 

Common sources, specifically dental products like toothpaste and mouthwash, and foods made using the water.

Parting Words

It is complex to make up your mind on whether to fluoridate drinking water for the whole population or not because the balance between the obvious dental health benefits and negative effects has to be considered. Fluoride is a fact without any doubt that it has been effective in the prevention of dental diseases. 

Nonetheless, its safety and ethics are still a matter of debate eve For the future, as research develops and understanding, how to use fluoride in public health will improve. Probably there will be more safety than risk for the benefit.