Show fluor fluorine m e gives protection against tooth decay precede following Is the fifth in a series of articles pub dished by the vernal ex express ess in an cooperation with the utah utah dental society in observance at of national childrens Children 3 dental health day monday february 2 returns coming in on some of the most thoroughgoing thorough going studies in dental history are piling up evidence tot show that your childrens teeth can be partially armour plated against decay with fluorine fluorine Is a chemical related to chlorine universally used in purification of water it is the new super weapon in the war on decay just jast how fluorine makes the teeth more resistant Is not fully understood but it Is known to have a strong affinity for calcium the chen chemical deal reaction is believed to convere enamel into calcified tissue which is less soluble when exposed to the corrosive acids that cause tooth decay studies on fluorides flu effectiveness ti veness have been made in communities where the drinking supply has ha accidentally contained fluoride and in communities where it has been purposely added as a salt in the amount of one part to one n million parts of water less than the proverbial drop in the bucket these studies show that children drinking this water from birth to early teens are experiencing perien cing from one third to two thirds less decay lower dentist bills and a better chance of keeping teeth to old age in grand rapids for example a reduction in dental decay of more than 61 01 percent per cent among ng alx year old children was noted between 1045 1945 and 1030 1950 lewiston idaho reported a 58 per cent reduction in dental decay in seven year olds three yea years r s after fluoridation of water e r b began e gan in areas where water Is not yet fluoridated dentists are applying fluorides directly to the teeth of children A series of four applications are given two to seven days apart usually at ages 3 7 10 and 13 so that all teeth are treated soon after they come in As much as a 40 per cent reduction in dental dew decay has been noted the e story of fluorides and decay is a stirring tribute to research same some year years ago dentists observed that in some parts of the country teeth of children were mottled with notches and stains but that they ther had less decay than normal normal this was traced tonu toj fluorides orides in the drinking water scientists then began studies to see if solutions of fluorides could be used to prevent decay without causing mottled enamel this led to development of the topical application directly to childrens tee teeth and later to that fluoridation n of water er s supplies up plies cost of fluoridation of community water waler supplies Is only 4 to 14 cents a person per year depending on the type of fluor ide compound used the amount of fluoride already in the water the size of the community and the per capita use of water Next week giving childrens teeth a chance |