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Hearsay/conspiracy theory... but I heard that fluoride doesn't help your teeth and that a general increase in hygiene occurred the same time that fluoride. I al
by ericfrederich 12y ago
Hearsay/conspiracy theory... but I heard that fluoride doesn't help your teeth and that a general increase in hygiene occurred the same time that fluoride.
I also heard that it is a byproduct of processing aluminium and they coaxed the government to put it into water rather than disposing of it responsibly.
- cyorir 12y agoPure bullshit. Fluoride (F-) is a weak base. Dental plaque produces acid (H+) which is one cause of tooth decay. F- + H+ <-> HF. The Fluoride neutralizes some of the acid to reduce tooth decay.
- im3w1l 12y agoThat's not the main way it protects the teeth. If you just wanted to neutralize the acids, you could rinse/drink with a buffer such as milk. Flouride works by integrating with your teeth. It forms a mineral that it is more resistant to acid attack than the mineral teeth are made of naturally.
- scubadude 12y agoYes, the biggest benefit is when the tooth is forming. It's like boro-silicate glass (pyrex) or steel; some atoms in the crystalline structure of the base material are replaced with others, which improves the overall strength of the result. So, like boron improves glass and carbon improves iron (to make steel) then fluoride improves the tooth structure.