When it comes to the health of your smile, prevention is priceless. Since most dental issues like tooth decay and gum disease are progressive, they only grow worse with time once they’ve developed. One of the more popular preventive tools in the fight against tooth decay is fluoride, which can be found in most modern toothpaste and dental care products. In fact, the benefits of the mineral are so well-known that fluoride treatments are a routine measure at your dentist’s office for patients with an increased risk of tooth decay. Encinitas periodontist, Dr. Kania, explores the popularity of fluoride in today’s dental care by explaining how it protects your teeth from disease.
Discovering the Complex Mineral
The first indications that fluoride could benefit your oral health began in the early 1900s as an odd observation by a young dental school graduate named Frederick McKay. In 1901, McKay opened his dental practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Upon his arrival, McKay was astonished to find that a large portion of the population sported prominent brown stains on their teeth. In some cases, the stains were severe enough to resemble the color of chocolate candy. After decades of research and the eventual collaboration of other interested professionals, McKay and his colleagues discovered that the stains were caused by the supply of fluoride in the drinking water. What astounded McKay and friends most, however, was that teeth afflicted with the brown deformity were strangely resistant to tooth decay. (more…)