PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen teeth and reduce cavities. According to the CDC, it does this by repairing teeth from damage caused by the bacteria in our mouths that produce acid.
Unhealthy teeth and gums is associated with inflammation in the body which increases the risk of heart disease. More than 75 years ago, fluoride was added to the water supply and in those years tooth decay had been reduced by 25%.
The concentration must be carefully measured and is measured at 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water. On its website, the CDC says this is equivalent to three drops of water in a 55-gallon barrel filled with water. The CDC has called fluoridation of drinking water one of the 10 geat public health interventions of the twentieth century.
Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
