Dr Jerry Simon
September 8th, 2025
By Dr. Jerry Simon, Founder of Dental Care Stamford
Many people are cautious about chemicals in our food and skeptical about vaccinations; I can tell you, I feel the same way! Especially in light of current events. However, at the same time, as both a dentist and a scientist, I believe it’s important to focus on the facts rather than the online buzz.
Fact 1: Fluoride is the 13th most common element on Earth, alongside elements like carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen. It’s naturally present in all the world’s oceans at a concentration of about 1 part per million (ppm). Since the Earth is more than 70% covered by oceans — and over 95% of the planet’s water is in those oceans — that’s a significant amount of naturally occurring fluoride that has existed long before humans ever arrived.
Interestingly, for reasons scientists still don’t fully understand, most land-based water sources, including lakes, rivers, streams, and wells, contain much lower fluoride levels, typically less than 0.1 ppm. This is far below ocean concentrations, which means that the water many of us drink naturally contains very little fluoride.
Fact 2: In the 1940s, researchers discovered that children living in communities with naturally occurring fluoride levels of around 1 ppm had significantly fewer cavities than children in neighboring areas where fluoride levels were much lower. This finding became the foundation for modern water fluoridation efforts.
Fact 3: In some regions, such as parts of the Southwestern United States and Colorado, fluoride levels in drinking water occur naturally at 2 ppm or higher — more than double what’s found in the oceans. In fact, scientists have identified certain areas where natural fluoride concentrations can range anywhere from 2 to 10 ppm.
Fact 4: Given that some U.S. regions have had naturally elevated fluoride levels for tens of thousands of years — without any evidence of increased disease rates compared to communities with little or no fluoride — it’s difficult to link fluoride to health problems. The science simply doesn’t support claims that any amount of fluoride, even at these levels, causes harm.
When children drink water containing about 1 ppm of fluoride during the years when their teeth are developing — roughly from birth to age 12 — the fluoride replaces some of the calcium in the forming teeth. This creates fluoride crystals in the enamel, which are much more resistant to acid than calcium crystals. As a result, fluoridated enamel becomes stronger and more resistant to decay.
Once the teeth are fully formed, unfortunately, the small amount of fluoride in drinking water no longer makes a difference in strengthening teeth. However, the protection built during tooth development lasts a lifetime, making early fluoride exposure especially crucial for long-term dental health.
Since we can easily measure the amount of fluoride in water, adding just enough to reach the current recommended level of 0.7 ppm — still lower than what’s naturally found in the oceans — has been proven to significantly reduce tooth decay. Because it is both safe and inexpensive, public health experts consider community water fluoridation to be one of the most effective and cost-efficient public health measures ever implemented.
Yes — fluoride is a friend! Fluoride has been around for millions of years, and research shows no evidence that communities with naturally higher fluoride levels have more health problems than those with little to no fluoride. Whether you’re drinking fluoridated water or receiving additional fluoride treatments at the dentist, it’s safe — and the benefits for long-term dental health are well-proven.
There’s no need for concern. If your child’s dentist recommends fluoride, you can feel confident knowing it helps reduce their risk of cavities, strengthens their teeth, and supports a healthier smile for years to come.
Dr Jerry Simon
September 25th, 2025
Fluoride: Friend or Foe? Part II: For Adults By Dr. Jerry Simon, Founder of Dental Care Stamford Questions? Call us…
Dr Jerry Simon
August 27th, 2025
Why You Might Not Know You Have Bad Breath (And What to Do About It) Questions? Call us today (203)…
Dr Jerry Simon
May 19th, 2025
5 Dental Facts Every Adult in Stamford Should Know Questions? Call us today (203) 324-6171 1. Cavities Don’t Always Hurt—Until…
1500 Summer Street Stamford, CT
203-324-6171
