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Brush Aside Fluoride Myths, Denver, CO (2026)

07/12/2025

🦷How Can I Access Dental Care?🦷

There are a number of resources available to those needing dental care who lack insurance. Medicaid can provide dental care to those eligible, and Colorado is home to a variety of low-cost dental clinics.

Colorado’s Medicaid Dental Program is called “Health First Colorado.” You can explore their website here: https://hcpf.colorado.gov/dental-benefits

➡️If you are eligible for Medicaid, here are links to find dental providers in your area:
- https://www.dentaquest.com/en/members/colorado-medicaid-chip-dental-coverage/health-first-colorado
- https://hcpf.colorado.gov/find-a-doctor

➡️If you are are looking for low-cost clinics, here is a link to available clinics in CO (organized by city): https://cdaonline.org/welcome/lowcostcare/lowfee/

07/12/2025

🚰 🦷Water Fluoridation🦷🚰

➡️What is it?
Treating public drinking water with fluoride has been utilized as a major public health initiative for over 75 years. It's a cost-effective preventative measure that's accessible to millions of Americans. Drinking fluoridated water keeps teeth strong and reduces cavities by about 25% in children and adults.

👀See if your county has fluoridated water here >>>
https://nccd.cdc.gov/doh_mwf/default/default.aspx

➡️If I'm using a fluoride toothpaste, do I still need to drink fluoridated water?
These things work together to prevent cavities. Fluoridated water keeps a low level of fluoride in the mouth all day. Fluoride toothpaste provides a much higher concentration, keeping it on your teeth as you sleep.

➡️What does the future of water fluoridation look like?
The future of fluoridation will depend on community trust. Use your voice to keep fluoride in water and to expand fluoridation programs to more counties within the US.
Here is a link to Colorado’s Water Fluoridation Program: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/community-water-fluoridation

Read more about water fluoridation:

>>https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/about/index.html

>>https://cdphe.colorado.gov/community-water-fluoridation

07/12/2025

🦷❓ Fluoride Myths and Controversies❓🦷

The “Fluoride Controversy” in the United States stems mainly from the practice of community water fluoridation – the process of adjusting fluoride levels in the public drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. This practice has been long and widely accepted by several public health organizations. However, recently this topic has been debated by those who oppose water fluoridation due to concerns about potential health risks and a violation of their individual rights. To learn more about water fluoridation, visit our post on water fluoridation or read more about it here >> https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/about/index.html

🤔Can Fluoride Cause Cognitive Decline?🤔
In August 2024, The National Toxicology Program (NTP) published a report on the potential link between fluoride exposure and lower IQ levels in children. This report ultimately led to the ruling that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must “take action” regarding fluoride in drinking water “presenting an unreasonable risk of injury to health”.
The report found that drinking water with an amount of fluoride higher than the current guidelines for water fluoridation are consistently found to be associated with a lower IQ in children. However, the report did not study if children who were only exposed to properly regulated water fluoridation levels, such as the drinking water in the United States, were also found to have a lower IQ. The report also did not evaluate the oral health benefits of fluoride in drinking water.
The American Dental Association (ADA) released a statement in support of community water fluoridation at the recommended levels, stating “the district court ruling against the (EPA) provides no scientific basis for the ADA to change its endorsement of community water fluoridation as safe and beneficial to oral health”.
➡️TLDR:
Without further study of fluoride exposure at the levels currently being used in the United States, it cannot be concluded that water containing regulated levels of fluoride contribute to a lower IQ in children. There is scientific evidence supporting water fluoridation as a factor in lower rates of tooth decay.

🤔Does Fluoride Affect Thyroid Function?🤔
While there is a published study that suggests that people living in regions with water fluoridation have a higher risk of developing thyroid disease (hypothyroidism) than those living in regions without water fluoridation, many variables could have contributed to these findings. The amount of fluoride in the water was considered for this study finding that high levels of fluoride were somewhat inconsistently linked to thyroid disease.
➡️TLDR:
Without further research, especially where all variables are controlled including the amount of fluoride used in the water, this study does not prove that there is a link between thyroid disease and fluoride exposure. There is scientific evidence supporting water fluoridation as a factor in lower rates of tooth decay.

🤔Is Fluoride Banned in Europe?🤔
Community water fluoridation is used in more than 25 countries and reaches over 400 million people worldwide to reduce general health inequality. Studies in England have found that fluoride in water has reduced decay by up to 35% in children, especially those living in areas without regular access to dental care. Counties in England with low socioeconomic status have been compared and shown that the county without fluoridated water has one of the highest levels of tooth decay in children, leading to the call to fluoridate the water in more areas. There are cities in Switzerland where water is not fluoridated simply because the naturally occurring fluoride in water is already enough to have a positive effect on its citizens’ oral health. Some areas in Italy have higher than recommended levels of fluoride naturally occurring in their water so they must actually remove some of the fluoride from their water to make sure it is safe to drink. Bulgaria chooses to fluoridate its milk, and Greece instead fluoridates bottled water for drinking. There are places in Europe where there has been a choice not to fluoridate the water because the people choose not to.
➡️TLDR:
Neither fluoride nor water fluoridation are banned in Europe. There is scientific evidence supporting water fluoridation as a factor in lower rates of tooth decay.

🤔Does Fluoride Use Pose a Cancer Risk?🤔
Some reports have stated that water fluoridation is responsible for bone and thyroid cancer. The National Cancer Institute, the CDC, and The American Cancer Society agree that there is no link between water fluoridation and an increased risk for cancer in the United States. These organizations also agree that water fluoridation is important in reducing tooth decay in adults and children.
➡️TLDR:
Water fluoridation has not been linked to cancer. There is scientific evidence supporting water fluoridation as a factor in lower rates of tooth decay.

➡️➡️Want more info? Here are our sources:

>> https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2024/september/judge-orders-epa-to-address-impacts-of-fluoride-in-drinking-water/

>> https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/myths/fluoridated-water-fact-sheet -fluoridated-water-cause-cancer

>> https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38029816/

>> https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250528-why-some-countries-dont-fluoridate-their-water

>> https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39172715/

>> https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/water-fluoridation-and-cancer-risk.html

07/12/2025

🦷Are There Alternatives to Fluoride?🦷

➡️NANOHYDROXYAPATITE (nHA):
Nanohydroxyapatite is a synthetic (lab created) form of hydroxyapatite, the material that makes up the outer protective covering of our teeth, the enamel. nHA is perhaps the most well-known available alternative to fluoride. nHA comes in the form of over-the-counter toothpaste and mouth rinse, as well as options for professionally applied varnishes. While nHA is still lacking approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Dental Association (ADA), there are studies available that suggest that this product may have properties that can strengthen and harden tooth enamel, lessen sensitivity, and aid in the regeneration of bone. The manufacturers of nHA products suggest that the following guidelines are followed when using these home care items:
*Make sure the product is a nano- hydroxyapatite. There are also options for hydroxyapatite and micro- hydroxyapatite, but the nano- hydroxyapatite is supposed to be small enough to incorporate itself into the actual structure of the tooth.
*The products should not be rinsed off after use, but instead left in the mouth, after spitting excess out, for 30 minutes after use.
📣📣The ADA does promote the use of fluoride as the safest and most effective way to prevent tooth decay based of scientific evidence and long term studies.

➡️CALCIUM PHOSPHATE:
Tooth enamel is made up of hydroxyapatite as mentioned above, which is a structure made up of several minerals. The two most abundant minerals in this structure are calcium and phosphate. There are different dental products for over-the-counter use and some by prescription only that contain calcium and phosphate as the active ingredients. Some available studies show that there is a potential for calcium phosphate products to harden the teeth and protect against sensitivity. However, the FDA has only approved the by prescription only products for treating tooth sensitivity and for use in dental cleaning procedures – not for the use as a cavity preventative. The ADA, however, has not given these products its Seal of Acceptance because it does not meet their standards for safety and efficacy. The only products the ADA have accepted as effective at preventing tooth decay contain fluoride except for one other product on this list, here is the link: https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science/ada-seal-of-acceptance #:~:text=Accepted%20products%20are%20required%20to,ADA%20Council%20on%20Scientific%20Affairs

➡️XYLITOL:
Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol found and extracted from fruits, vegetables, and birchwood. Because it is a sugar substitute, it does not feed the bacteria in your mouth that are responsible for tooth decay. When you use xylitol at the recommended levels, it can cause the cavity-forming bacteria to starve before they can cause dental problems. It is also being studied for its effectiveness in strengthening and hardening teeth by binding with the calcium within them. Xylitol comes in many forms such as candy, gum, syrup, and toothpaste. Xylitol is approved by the FDA as a non-cariogenic sweetener, meaning it does not promote tooth decay. The ADA also approves several xylitol products that are known to aid in cavity prevention. The list includes popular chewing gums, toothpastes, and mouth rinse.

➡️➡️ Want more info? Here are our sources:
>>https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science/ada-seal-of-acceptance #:~:text=Accepted%20products%20are%20required%20to,ADA%20Council%20on%20Scientific%20Affairs

>> https://www.rdhmag.com/patient-care/fluoride/article/55244363/how-do-xylitol-hydroxyapatite-and-fluoride-work-do-we-want-them-in-our-toothpaste

>> https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/fluoride-topical-and-systemic-supplements

>>https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/8/4/331 #:~:text=A%20total%20of%2057%20clinical%20trials%20were,toothpaste%20was%20tested%20to%20improve%20gingival%20health

>>https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/aspartame-and-other-sweeteners-food #:~:text=The%20FDA%20permits%20the%20use,mannitol%2C%20erythritol%2C%20and%20maltitol

>>https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8219434/ #:~:text=MI%20Paste%C2%AE%20is%20a,FDA%20for%20treating%20tooth%20hypersensitivity

>> https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2021.1981316

07/12/2025

🦷Are there any Drawbacks to Using Fluoride?🦷

➡️Dental Fluorosis:
When used properly, fluoride is very safe and effective. However, chronic excessive fluoride exposure during tooth development (between birth and 6-8 years old) can cause dental fluorosis, a condition characterized by tooth discoloration ranging from white to dark brown, or a pitted appearance of the enamel covering of the tooth. While most often attributed to consumption of well water that is high in fluoride concentration, use of fluoride prior to 6 months of age and regular ingestion of fluoride in higher doses than recommended, such as accidental swallowing of fluoride toothpaste and mouthrinse, can also contribute to this condition. Mild dental fluorosis is largely considered a cosmetic issue not affecting tooth health or function. It is important to follow the recommended guidelines for fluoride use set forth by the ADA and to supervise young children while they use routine dental products to prevent the occurrence of dental fluorosis.
>> If you want more information on fluorosis: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23227-fluorosis

➡️Acute Fluoride Toxicity:
When a large amount of fluoride is consumed in a single dose, acute fluoride toxicity may occur. An average of 30,000 calls to the US poison control every year are due to ingestion of fluoride products in children, most commonly toothpaste. This is likely due to the fact that children's oral health products are designed to look and taste enticing, they are easily accessible in the home, and it only takes consuming 1.8 oz of toothpaste in a 22 pound child to reach the “probably toxic dose”. Signs and symptoms can develop quickly after ingestion and usually include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, and confusion.
Caregivers should immediately contact poison control if a fluoride product is consumed in an amount more than used for regular home care. At home treatment can include minimizing absorption of the fluoride by consuming something high in calcium, such as drinking milk or milk of magnesia. Fatalities are rare.

The benefits of fluoride are well-established and the potential for serious toxicity is uncommon. Caregivers should keep fluoride-containing products out of the reach of children to prevent such events.

➡️Recent Research on Fluoride Safety:
The safety and efficacy of community water fluoridation and the use of self and professionally applied fluoride products to reduce the risk of tooth decay has long been studied and documented. However, the discussion of risk versus reward of fluoride has been a topic of debate. Recently in the U.S. there has been political and personal focus given to fluoride’s effect on the human body.
To look further into these studies, please follow the link here: https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmac050

Want more info? Here are our sources:
>> https://ilikemyteeth.org/what-is-fluorosis/
>> https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21701192/

07/12/2025

🦷 What are the Benefits of Fluoride? 🦷

➡️Cavity Prevention: Fluoride strengthens teeth, making them more resistant to tooth decay. Community water fluoridation has reduced cavities by at least 25% in both children and adults according to studies done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

➡️Cost-Effectiveness: The CDC states that the standardized use of fluoride is an inexpensive way to improve oral health for everyone, regardless of income or access to dental care.

➡️Public Health Achievement: The CDC recognizes water fluoridation as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.

➡️ Reduces Pain and Missed School/Work: With a reduction in cavities due to the use of fluoride, there is a correlation to the reduction of pain, the need for dental work, and the number of missed days of school or work due to dental problems, according to the CDC.

➡️Addresses Oral Health Disparities: Even those without access to dental care or dental insurance can benefit from community water fluoridation and state funded fluoride programs to address oral health disparities by reaching community members who might otherwise go without this type of prevention.
➡️Safe and Well-Tolerated: Fluoride, when used at recommended levels, is considered safe and well-tolerated, even for infants and children according to the CDC.

➡️Supports Bone Health: Fluoride can strengthen bones in addition to teeth. More research is necessary to understand the full potential of fluoride in the prevention of skeletal disease.

➡️Reduced Dental and Healthcare Costs: Fluoride is a preventative oral health measure. Investing in prevention can lower the amount of money people spend on average on dental treatments and healthcare costs related to dental disease.

➡️Supported by Health Organizations: Numerous dental, medical, and health organizations including the American Dental Association (ADA) and the CDC endorse the use of fluoride as a safe and effective option for cavity prevention.

Want more info? Here are our sources:

>>https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/about/index.html #:~:text=What%20the%20research%20shows,cavities%20works%20at%20all%20ages.

>>https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/data-research/facts-stats/fast-facts-community-water-fluoridation.html #:~:text=More%20than%2075%20years%20of,%2C%20medical%2C%20and%20dental%20organizations.

07/12/2025

🦷More Ways to Get Fluoride🦷

➡️Professionally Applied Fluoride:
During routine dental visits, a highly concentrated fluoride may be applied. This type of fluoride treatment may come in the form of a gel, foam, or varnish that only needs to be applied in-office 1-4 times per year depending on your risk of tooth decay. Professionally- applied fluoride is safe for children at about 6 months of age.

➡️Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF):
SDF is an alkaline, colorless solution containing silver and fluoride that can be professionally applied for tooth sensitivity when indicated. SDF also has off-label uses to stop beginning tooth decay and prevent cavities in high risk areas of the mouth like exposed root surfaces.

➡️Systemic Fluoride:
Unlike the topical products listed above, some fluoride products are safe to ingest. It is true that the food we eat may contain fluoride, but there are also a few systemic options meant to be consumed specifically for cavity prevention.

- Water Fluoridation: The ADA lets us know that fluoride is naturally present in all water sources, but there is an optimal amount of fluoride content in fluoride-deficient water that can be adjusted to meet the standards for optimal oral health. To learn more about water fluoridation, see the “Water fluoridation” post on our page
- Dietary Fluoride Supplements: Children with developing teeth (6 months - 16 years) at a high risk of cavities or without water fluoridation options in their area can be prescribed fluoride supplements such as lozenges, tablets, or a liquid.

Want more information? Here are our sources:
>> https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/fluoride-topical-and-systemic-supplements

>> https://www.todaysrdh.com/fluoride-varnish-vs-foam-what-research-shows/

07/12/2025

🦷 Who Should Be Using Fluoride, and How Much? 🦷

The recommendations for fluoride use vary by age and an individual’s risk of tooth decay. Your dental provider will assess your risk for cavities at your annual dental check ups and can recommend different fluoride products based on your needs.

➡️Brushing with Fluoride Toothpaste:
For all age ranges, tooth brushing is recommended both morning and night. Caregivers of children under 6 years of age should supervise children while brushing to make sure they are using the proper amount of toothpaste, and to prevent them from swallowing it. It is important to spit out excess toothpaste after brushing, but do not rinse your mouth out with water or eat or drink for 30 minutes after brushing to allow the fluoride to work in the mouth.

The American Dental Association (ADA) has set the following standards for fluoride toothpaste use:

* Ages 0-6 months: caregivers should brush teeth with infant toothbrush and water only.
* Ages 6 months to 3 years: once teeth begin to come into the mouth (about 6 months), tooth brushing should be performed with fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice smeared onto a soft-bristled toothbrush.
* Ages 3 to 6 years: a pea-sized amount of fluoride can be used for brushing at this age.
* Ages 6 months into adulthood: use a toothpaste containing fluoride twice daily.

➡️Fluoride Mouthrinse or Gel:
Fluoride mouthrinses are retained in dental plaque and saliva as an added protection against cavities. It can be swished and spit out, with directions ranging from daily to weekly use.

The ADA recommends the following guidelines for fluoride mouthrinse use:

* Ages 0-6 years: not recommended due to risk of swallowing.
* Ages 6 years and up: over-the-counter mouth rinses can be used daily. Higher strength rinses are available by prescription for those at a higher risk for tooth decay and may be used daily or weekly.

Visit for more info: https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/fluoride-topical-and-systemic-supplements

07/12/2025

🦷 Fluoride Facts & Info 🦷
Let’s set the record straight about fluoride. Here, we’ll discuss what it is, how it works, and why it matters:

➡️What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil, water, and food. Although only small amounts are found in the human body, fluoride plays a huge role in your dental health. 99% of ingested fluoride is absorbed into your bones and teeth, strengthening and remineralizing the hard tissues of your body, especially tooth enamel – the hard protective outer coating of your teeth. This means that with regular fluoride intake/use, your chances of getting cavities lessens not only because it makes your teeth stronger, but also because fluoride reduces the plaque bacteria growth that can cause tooth decay, and even reverse the beginning stages of a cavity.

➡️Where do we get fluoride from?
Raw fruits and vegetables, meat & seafood, unprocessed foods, and both green and black tea are known to be good and natural sources of fluoride when eaten. Additionally, water with added fluoride (fluoridated water), toothpaste, mouth rinse, and fluoride varnishes offered at your annual dental cleanings can provide increased benefits of cavity prevention when applied directly to the teeth. While fluoride use alone will not prevent all tooth decay, ever since the introduction of fluoride as cavity prevention in the early 1900’s, the amount of overall tooth decay has been significantly reduced.

Want more info? Here are our sources:
>> https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/11195-fluoride
>> https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmac050

Brush Aside Fluoride Myths

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