For many people, brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and drinking treated water is second nature. In fact, most people probably don’t even think about it. But believe it or not, it wasn’t always this way. In fact, how the dental community discovered the benefits of this mighty mineral was purely accidental. Here’s a fascinating look back at the history of this amazing additive, and how it can still help prevent dental emergencies today!
Strong Staining: The Curious Case of Colorado Springs
In 1901, a dentist by the name of Dr. Frederick McKay opened a dental practice in Colorado Springs, CO, and begin welcoming new patients. With each smile he evaluated, he began noticing the same curious cosmetic flaw: teeth that were brown stained, sometimes so badly they appeared to be caked with chocolate!
To assist with researching this phenomenon, Dr. McKay enlisted the help of a researcher by the name of Dr. G.V. Black, who arrived in Colorado Springs in 1909 to assist him. Over the following six years, the dentists worked together to try and locate the cause of the stains (which today are called fluorosis). Upon further investigation, they realized that nearly 90 percent of the local children had similar stains, but somehow their teeth were incredibly strong and cavity resistant despite them.
Similar Symptoms: The Search Continues
In 1923 Dr. McKay packed up and headed from Colorado Springs to Oakey, ID, to investigate claims of more patients with brown stains and stronger than expected teeth. Apparently, when the town began using a new water supply, their smiles began discoloring. Dr. McKay suggested switching to yet another local spring, and within a few years the tooth mottling had stopped.
Dr. McKay then turned his attention to Bauxite, AR, where the headquarters of the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) was located, and locals were experiencing similar tooth discoloration. He teamed up with ALCOA’s chief chemist H.V. Churchill, conducting tests on the water supply, and eventually discovered that it contained high levels of fluoride. He then ordered tests of the water supplies in both Colorado Springs, CO, and Oakley, ID, and found that both communities water supplies had high levels of fluoride, too.
Lessons Learned
It wasn’t long before the National Institutes of Health (NIH) took notice of Dr. McKay’s research and began exploring the effects of water-borne fluoride on teeth. Two researchers, Dr. Trendley Dean and Dr. Elias Elvove, developed a method of measuring the fluoride content in water, and by the 1930s, the NIH determined that fluoride levels up to 1.0 ppm would not cause fluorosis.
In an effort to improve smiles everywhere, Dr. Dean began researching whether safe levels of fluoride could be added to public water supplies that lacked it, and in 1945, he spearheaded a study in Grand Rapids, MI, where the town had recently voted to do just that. Although it was his intention to conduct the study for 15 years, he was able to determine after just 11 that cavities had decreased by a staggering 60 percent in local children!
How Fluoride Helps You Today
Today, over 100 years after Dr. McKay first arrived in Colorado Springs, fluoridated water is now used in over 17,000 community water systems to protect teeth here in the United States. Costing an average of just one dollar per person each year, fluoride is now one of the safest, most effective, and most affordable ways to safeguard your smile by simply having a drink of refreshing tap water!
If you are concerned about whether you and your family’s teeth are getting enough fluoride, speak to your dentist about receiving an add-on treatment at your next cleaning, or if your community doesn’t treat their water, ask about your options for helping to protect your smile when you’re not brushing and flossing.
About Our Practice
At Harbor Dental Center, Dr. Todd and Dr. Bhatt want you to have a strong, healthy smile. Fluoride has been shown to safely strengthen the teeth and prevent cavities, reducing your risk of dangerous and painful dental emergencies. If you are suffering from an urgent dental problem, contact us today for a same-day appointment by calling 410-228-5445, or for a regular appointment, visit our website anytime!