The Magic of Fluoride On January 25, 1945 Grand Rapids, Michigan became the world’s first city to adjust the level of fluoride in its water supply. Since that time, fluoridation has dramatically improved the oral health of tens of millions of Americans. Today, approximately 72% of the U.S. population served by public water systems receive the benefit of optimally fluoridated water. Fluoridation of community water supplies is simply the adjustment of the existing, naturally occurring fluoride levels in drinking water to an optimal fluoride level recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service (0.7 - 1.2 parts per million) for the prevention of tooth decay. Wiemeyer Dentistry Founder, Dr. Peter Wiemeyer has worked as a dentist in Duxbury for over 40 years.  He can attest that water fluoridation has definitely reduced the incidence of cavities among children. In the 1970’s, it was normal for a child to need a few fillings each time he or she came in. Today, we have a large population of patients that have never had a cavity. Too much ingested fluoride can be a bad thing. Overexposure to fluoride can cause a condition called dental fluorosis. The highest risk of fluoride overexposure occurs between the ages of one to four years old, and the child is no longer at risk after 8 years of age. In its mild forms (which are its most common), fluorosis often appears as unnoticeable, tiny white streaks or specks in the enamel of the tooth. In its most severe form, tooth appearance is marred by discoloration or brown markings. What we have found is that the vast majority of fluorosis cases are in children who live in non-fluoridated communities and take fluoride supplements. Therefore, we do not recommend fluoride tablets to our patients in fluoridated communities. We feel that water fluoridation is the best way to receive the optimal concentration of fluoride for reduction of cavities. We’d love to answer any questions that you may have regarding fluoride, so please ask when you come in for your next visit.