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So the article seems to imply that fluoride is effective when applied topically and need not be ingested. So isn't fluoride toothpaste enough? Does it really ne

So the article seems to imply that fluoride is effective when applied topically and need not be ingested. So isn't fluoride toothpaste enough? Does it really need to be added to the water supply? How many studies have been done on the effects of bathing, cooking, watering plants, ingestion by pets, etc. with fluoridated water? One thing the article doesn't mention is where the fluoride is sourced from. Is it true that the fluoride that goes into the water supply is a waste product from fertilizer production? If this "waste" wasn't being put into the water how much would it cost fertilizer manufacturers to dispose of it? Is there some perverse incentive here? https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/engineering/engineering-shortages.htm https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/engineering/engineering-sho... >The three fluoride additives used for water fluoridation are derived principally from phosphate fertilizer production.

LeoPanthera 5y ago
Most people don't leave toothpaste in contact with their teeth for long enough. My dentist recommends not rinsing after brushing, and just leaving the toothpaste in there. (Fun aside: This is also the procedure on the ISS to avoid having to spit in zero gravity.)
- cecilpl2 5y ago
  > My dentist recommends not rinsing after brushing, and just leaving the toothpaste in there Is that not common practice? Just spit and you're done?
  - cheeseomlit 5y ago
    Many people rinse with water afterwards. If I don't rinse I get a wicked stomach-ache almost immediately after swallowing some toothpaste residue, so I rinse
    - tzs 5y ago
      How about rinsing with a fluoride rinse rather than water?
  - germinalphrase 5y ago
    I can’t stand the strong taste and residue film.
    - TheSkyHasEyes 5y ago
      Or the cottonmouth.
  - LeoPanthera 5y ago
    Many/most people rinse with water afterwards. I don't know if rinsing with fluoride mouthwash is better. I assume it's better than water, at least, but I don't know how it compares to not rinsing.
  - ajsnigrutin 5y ago
    This is a fairly new thing for me... we usually spat and then rinsed our mouths.
    - senectus1 5y ago
      same here (australia)
micromacrofoot 5y ago
>So isn't fluoride toothpaste enough? something like 25% of the population don't brush daily
debacle 5y ago
You can use a flouride rinse. Most kids with braces use a flouride rinse. I'm not sure how long you're supposed to use it for, I think it's 45 seconds twice a day.
davesmylie 5y ago
One problem with relying on toothpaste, is that for many children, the parents are not good at parenting and don't provide tooth brushes/ toothpaste or enforce regular tooth brushing (and from experience, my teens/twenty somethings are somewhat hit and miss in this area as well since they moved out) Putting it in the water supply ensures most people will at least get some fluoride. One big problem not covered in the article, is this leads to fluorosis - my eldest has permanently stained teeth due to me not making him spit out his tooth paste after brushing when he was a toddler combined with the fluoride he was getting from town supply water.

LeoPanthera 5y ago

Most people don't leave toothpaste in contact with their teeth for long enough. My dentist recommends not rinsing after brushing, and just leaving the toothpaste in there. (Fun aside: This is also the procedure on the ISS to avoid having to spit in zero gravity.)

cecilpl2 5y ago
> My dentist recommends not rinsing after brushing, and just leaving the toothpaste in there Is that not common practice? Just spit and you're done?
- cheeseomlit 5y ago
  Many people rinse with water afterwards. If I don't rinse I get a wicked stomach-ache almost immediately after swallowing some toothpaste residue, so I rinse
  - tzs 5y ago
    How about rinsing with a fluoride rinse rather than water?
- germinalphrase 5y ago
  I can’t stand the strong taste and residue film.
  - TheSkyHasEyes 5y ago
    Or the cottonmouth.
- LeoPanthera 5y ago
  Many/most people rinse with water afterwards. I don't know if rinsing with fluoride mouthwash is better. I assume it's better than water, at least, but I don't know how it compares to not rinsing.
- ajsnigrutin 5y ago
  This is a fairly new thing for me... we usually spat and then rinsed our mouths.
  - senectus1 5y ago
    same here (australia)

micromacrofoot 5y ago

>So isn't fluoride toothpaste enough? something like 25% of the population don't brush daily

debacle 5y ago

You can use a flouride rinse. Most kids with braces use a flouride rinse. I'm not sure how long you're supposed to use it for, I think it's 45 seconds twice a day.

davesmylie 5y ago

One problem with relying on toothpaste, is that for many children, the parents are not good at parenting and don't provide tooth brushes/ toothpaste or enforce regular tooth brushing (and from experience, my teens/twenty somethings are somewhat hit and miss in this area as well since they moved out) Putting it in the water supply ensures most people will at least get some fluoride. One big problem not covered in the article, is this leads to fluorosis - my eldest has permanently stained teeth due to me not making him spit out his tooth paste after brushing when he was a toddler combined with the fluoride he was getting from town supply water.