"The most important is simply what people are eating," says Dr. Robert Poritzky, a dentist who also specializes in nutrition. "It's simple: The better your diet the less tooth decay."
Also important in tooth decay is that some foods, like fruits and carbohydrates, are acid forming. Leaving the mouth more acid promotes tooth decay, while keeping the oral cavity less acid (more alkaline) prevents decay. Certain foods, like cheese; some toothpastes, baking soda, as well as natural fats and oils will leave the mouth less acid and more alkaline. This is important especially before bed. And for children, that glass of apple juice or milk just before bed may be promoting tooth decay. Another factor in tooth decay, one which we have less control over, is the genetic one. So taking responsibility for our own teeth is important.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says tooth decay has declined sharply in recent years, even in areas without fluoridated water. British researchers also found, after studying people from eight different countries, that tooth decay was declining equally in both fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas.
Dr. Poritzky was the only dentist opposed to water fluoridation in his city in the late 1960's. Following a town meeting where he debated the potential health risks, the city voted against fluoridation. A number of other cities also declined to fluoridate their water, including Los Angeles. Today, about half of all Americans drink fluoridated water.
The entire research report on fluoride and cancer will not be released by the NTP for some time. Potential problems include two opposing laws: The Safe Drinking Water Act requires that water contain no carcinogens, and local laws which may require fluoridation.
For now, those who wish to avoid fluoridated water can either use bottled water or filter what comes through the tap. However, some bottled water contains fluoride (ask the company), and many water filters don't keep fluoride out. The best filter for this purpose is a reverse osmosis system. With more solid data showing a connection between fluoride and cancer, perhaps most individuals and municipalities will avoid it. But then again, there are still millions smoking cigarettes. If some people insist on using fluoride, "put it in the candy" as Dr. George Goodheart says, "rather than in the water where all are exposed."
