Why Is Fluoride Good for Teeth?

If our teeth are made mostly of calcium, why do we use fluoride to keep them healthy? Quick Questions explains why, and how we finally figured it out.

Hosted by: Michael Aranda
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[JimPlaysGames]

Something people tend to not realise is that sometimes flouride levels are actually reduced by the regulations about flouride levels in drinking water, since it's naturally occurring in many places. Toxicity is about dosage. Too much of pretty much anything will kill you. Below the toxic level, everything is safe.

[whor_hay]

who knew one electron can make such a difference!

[Justpooinabush]

What many people do not understand when it comes to topics such as water fluoridation, fluoride in your toothpaste and a host of other "chemicals" is that toxicity is determined by DOSAGE. Anything can be toxic given a high enough dosage. An element or compound simply existing in something you consume or interact with says nothing about its detrimental effects on your health. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, it is in things like cigarette smoke, yet it's also produced in the body when you metabolise amino acids in foods such as apples. And yet you will see posts on social media highlighting how the toxic formaldehyde can be found in vaccines or certain foods. You can understand how silly that sounds when you put it into the perspective of dosage. 

[Urketadic]

The thing is, many people are sceptical because on many toothpastes it says that if your child accidentaly swallows paste, you should bring him to the doctor.

[igotaiphone]

lol its funny how chemistry scares people so much

[Iryanchang]

I was eating when I saw this, now I lost my fluorapatite.

[chairshoe]

fluoride topically = protects your teeth
fluoride being ingested = a whole world of health issues

[lysergiinhape]

There have also been many new studies made in Europe that showed no negative effect when fluoride was not added to the drinking water any more. Most likely because majority of people already wash their teeth these days and you don't need to be poisoning the water to fight tooth decay.

[johnb]

What's interesting is Western Europe cavity rate dropped by 60% as well only they didn't put fluoride in their water must be something in modern day nutrition medicine or hygiene

[tkal]

Curious... I have a follow up question to this video: Does fluoride need to come into contact with teeth to be beneficial? Or, if ingesting and metabolizing it is how it benefits teeth, then how does the fluoride make its way to assist in the repairing/reconstruction of tooth enamel?

[GrapeDrank]

Why do you think the back of the tooth paste says if more than brushing is swallowed contact poison control? But its good for you right?

[Mystro]

Though I wholeheartedly agree with the use of fluoride in toothpaste, I think we should probably not be adding it to our water.

[talideon]

Next on SciShow: an episode debunking all the anti-fluoride woo.

[gorgeouslyfe]

If you read the back of your tooth paste tube it says "call poison control center immediately if swallowed" so if your ok with that then have a good day!!!! 😃

[tdnrarogerg]

Try Xylitol sugar instead. Remineralizes and tastes much better. Used for decades in Skandinavia.

[envsgirl]

Based on comments, and my own ambient awareness, it would be really interesting if you could do a follow-up video addressing the knowledge/belief that fluoride is harmful - both in toothpaste for contact, and consumed in drinking water - in terms of things like cancer and neurological effects. I mean, personally I think the tradeoff of strong enamel and vastly reduced cavity risk is worth the (potentially) tiny increase in health risk in other areas, but a lot of people disagree with that. What's the science on fluoride for non-tooth health?

[MrTraper]

ok good fo yo teath but what about your pineal glain

[LeandroLima]

I'm surprised to not hear about the neurological dangers if fluoride. Come on scishow.

[realandsurreal]

I'm glad to see you cite some studies, which most people doing fluoride videos aren't doing, but even in the NIH study, it says that fluoride is only toxic when consumed at very high doses. For people who don't drink fluoridated water and use fluoride toothpaste and don't swallow it, the risk of toxicity is very low. Thanks for providing scientific references even if your own statements about its safety are biased against fluoride use.

[caleblimb]

Fluoride belongs in toothpaste but not water.