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The use of fluoride in its various forms is the foundation of tooth decay prevention throughout Europe; several countries have introduced fluoridated salt, with varying success: in Switzerland and Germany, fluoridated salt represents 65% to 70% of the domestic market, while in France the market share reached 60% in 1993 but dwindled to 14% in ...
Tooth decay is caused by biofilm (dental plaque) lying on the teeth and maturing to become cariogenic (causing decay). Certain bacteria in the biofilm produce acids, primarily lactic acid , in the presence of fermentable carbohydrates such as sucrose , fructose , and glucose .
Water fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to a public water supply to reduce tooth decay, and is handled differently by countries across the world. [2]Water fluoridation is considered very common in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Chile and Australia where over 50% of the population drinks fluoridated water.
The fluoride enhances the strength of teeth by the formation of fluorapatite, a naturally occurring component of tooth enamel. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] Although sodium fluoride is used to fluoridate water and is the standard by which other water-fluoridation compounds are gauged, hexafluorosilicic acid (H 2 SiF 6 ) and its salt sodium ...
Tooth decay is caused by bacteria naturally present in one's mouth. These bacteria form a sticky, colorless soft film on the teeth called plaque. When foods containing carbohydrates (starches and sugars) are eaten, the bacteria that form plaque use the sugar as a form of energy. They also turn it into a glue-like substance that helps them stick ...
Fluoride came into use to prevent tooth decay in the 1940s. [6] Fluoride is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines . [ 7 ] In 2021, it was the 291st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 600,000 prescriptions.
A 1930s poster from the Work Projects Administration promoting oral hygiene. Tooth decay is the most common global disease. [14] Over 80% of cavities occur inside fissures in teeth where brushing cannot reach food left trapped after eating and saliva and fluoride have no access to neutralize acid and remineralize demineralized teeth, unlike easy-to-clean parts of the tooth, where fewer ...
Dental health professionals and scholarly journals have noted the steep rise in tooth decay, especially in children due to the removal of fluoride in tap water in Israel. [ 86 ] [ 87 ] In the United Kingdom a strategic health authority can direct a water company to fluoridate the water supply in an area if it is technically possible.