ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Dentists have told us for years that drinking fluoridated water keeps teeth strong and reduces cavities and tooth decay. But some politicians are pushing to take it out of water treatment plans and community water sources so it might not be available for you and your family.
Fluoride’s a naturally occurring mineral found in water. According to the CDC, 72% of the U.S. population on community water systems have access to fluoridated water and that protects their teeth.
“It strengthens your teeth by making the hydroxyapatite stronger,” explained Mark Matar, DMD, owner of Winter Park Family Dentistry and Prosthodontics.
But if it’s removed from our water supply are there alternatives? One is toothpaste.
“The ingredients in the back, it’ll say fluoride, typically speaking in toothpaste over the counter. And you see that written on the back,” Dr. Matar told Ivanhoe.
Cleveland Clinic says to look for a toothpaste that is 0.1% or more. Mouthwash is also another way to get fluoride.
“So I don’t know if it might say like 0.12 percent fluoride, but it’ll definitely say, it’ll give you the delivery of the fluoride ion,” said Dr. Matar.
Here’s a tip: spit but don’t rinse after brushing and flossing and avoid eating or drinking for at least 30 minutes to let the fluoride work. Nursing water is an alternative for your baby.
“Most of the time that comes in a concentration of between 0.7 and 1 part per million.”
And while fluoride is safe for kids be aware of how much they get. Kids under nine should get no more than two milligrams a day.
Dr. Matar believes all of these alternatives will help but he says mouthwash and toothpaste are too concentrated for kids under five or six if they can’t properly spit without swallowing. This is an important issue for the future because the New York Times says roughly 40% of children live in areas without fluoridated water.
Contributors to this news report include: Cliff Tumetel, Producer; Shay Goldschmidt, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/world/canada/canada-calgary-fluoride-water.html
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-choose-the-best-toothpaste-for-you
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Fluoride-HealthProfessional/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/well/fda-fluoride-supplements-kids-doctors.html
* For More Information, Contact: Mark Matar, DMD
Owner of Winter Park Family Dentistry and Prosthodontics
(407) 473-1118
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