Do adults benefit from flouride? (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 months ago by pb42184@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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First let me be clear: I'm not a crazy conspiracy person (...on this) I just don't rely on a municipal well. As far as I know adding fluoride to the private well at my houses is not a thing, good or bad. I did drink municipal water for two years when I lived on campus in college.

That said, is fluoride a benefit to adults or just children?

When I was a kid I got fluoride treatments at the dentist, but then aged out. I've never had a cavity in forty years, but I'd like to keep it that way. Should I still be doing it?

Also no, I'm not using the internet as a substitute for a dentist, just my next dental appointment is in four months. TIA

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[-] dustyData@lemmy.world 32 points 4 months ago

Everyone, even dogs benefit from fluoride in the water. It's not just children. Virtually all toothpaste contains it too. Some groundwater sources also contain it naturally, some even above the recommended max level from health associations. So I'd say, document yourself with official sources. Test your well levels, then decide. Be mindful that regular consumption of soft drinks, processed foods and even air conditioning nullifies the effects for cavities.

[-] QualifiedKitten@lemmy.world 31 points 4 months ago

Be mindful that ... air conditioning nullifies the effects for cavities.

Got any sources for that? My admittedly very brief search just turned up a bunch of stuff about ventilation and COVID/aerosols.

[-] dustyData@lemmy.world -3 points 4 months ago

Dry air, dries the mouth. Dry mouth is sensible to cavities.

[-] QualifiedKitten@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago

I understand that air conditioning removes some moisture from the air, but just how much of an effect does it actually have on oral moisture? I was hoping to find some sort of studies with actual measurements of some sort.

[-] stoly@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago

It does sound like some armchair reasoning rather than observation or study.

[-] pb42184@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

Thanks. The fluoride in the water itself is not directly relevant because I just don't have it, but good evidence to raise the topic with my dentist as an adult. I definitely use fluoridated toothpaste.

[-] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

Yeah, if it's in toothpaste you're getting enough.

If you wanted to add fluoride like after you doing well treatment...

I honestly don't know if that's a good idea, because who knows how evenly it'll stay mixed correctly.

Like. You may end up getting a shit ton of fluoride when there's no rain and your wells low, then barely any when it fills up.

Fluoride toothpaste is likely your best bet for consistent doses.

[-] pb42184@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago

Makes sense. Even if its a thing I'd probably not keep up on it. My house filters have gotten embarrassingly full in my time

[-] givesomefucks@lemmy.world -2 points 4 months ago

Yeah, I tell people I'm on well/septic even in a city because when this house was built it was before urban sprawl...

And everyone immediately says how great it is that I don't have to pay water/sewer.

But like, I got to pump the septic, I got to service the well, I got to maintain the well pump and pressure tank, my garden hose has no pressure, have to keep up with water softener using a bunch of salt...

I'm probably not even saving money. And it's a lot of hassle.

But it would be 10s of thousands of dollars to get it hooked up, and who knows if my 80 year old plumbing can sustain city water pressure.

Not to mention if my electric goes out, so does my water.

I'd 100% prefer city water, $20 a month ain't shit.

[-] Montagge@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 months ago

Have you tried a salt free softener?

[-] pb42184@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

Yeah, the money isn't a thing for me. My houses are in parts of NY that just don't have municipal wells, so there's no reason to feel one way or the other about it. It just is what it is.

this post was submitted on 09 May 2024

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