Bottled water is convenient, but is it also causing an uptick in cavities? Maybe, says your dentist in Fort Lauderdale. Keep reading to find out how.
Fluoride Contributes to Healthy Smiles
It’s popular to drink bottled water in Florida and the US. But the thing about bottled H2O is that it does not contain fluoride, a mineral that is well known for cavity prevention. It may not taste as great, but most tap water sources throughout the US have been treated with fluoride. So when you choose bottled over tap, you’re missing out on a dose of the stuff that helps teeth stay strong.
The benefits of fluoride are significant, especially for children, whose tooth enamel has not hardened yet. Fluoride is easily absorbed into the teeth, where it remineralizes the enamel — or brings back the minerals that have been lost due to the acids in sugary snacks and beverages.
Benefits of Tap Water
Community water fluoridation has been acknowledged as a key intervention for cavities in young people. The Centers for Disease Control named water fluoridation one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century. So why are so many people choosing filtered H2O instead?
Tap water is…
- An easy way to get the fluoride that keeps teeth healthy. When combined with dental sealants, topical fluoride treatments at the dentist, six month checkups and cleanings, and good oral hygiene habits at home, the risk for cavities goes way down.
- More affordable than keeping filtered or bottled water around.
- Friendlier to the environment since there is reduced waste from plastic bottles.
Want to help yourself and your family enjoy stronger, healthier smiles? Consider investing in some reusable water bottles — and encouraging everyone to fill them straight from the tap.
Fluoride + Preventive Care = Happy Teeth
Don’t forget that the (not so) secret combination for cavity-free smiles is plenty of fluoride, good oral hygiene at home, and routine visits to the dentist.
You’ll receive a topical fluoride treatment during the six month checkup and cleaning — just one more quick dose of the mineral that keeps your teeth healthy and clean. Patients of all ages should have a checkup and cleaning every six months. If it’s been longer than that for you or your loved ones, don’t wait to contact your dentist. Your lasting smile depends on it!
About the Author
Dr. Natalia Benda-Celenski has been building beautiful smiles in Fort Lauderdale for more than 15 years. If you are searching for a wonderful “dentist near me,” you’ve found her! To find out more about water fluoridation or to schedule an appointment for a checkup and cleaning, you are invited to contact the office at (954) 491-8812.