Oral Health

Yes. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral often found in tap water, toothpaste, and food like oatmeal, raisins, and even black tea. Bacteria in the mouth break down sugar and create acid that damages teeth and causes cavities. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and prevents cavities by replacing minerals that acids remove from teeth.

The American Dental Association recommends brushing children’s teeth with a rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first tooth appears and increasing to a pea-sized beginning at age 3. Children should be supervised while brushing and encouraged to spit toothpaste rather than swallow it.

Boston's drinking water is fluoridated at the level recommended to help prevent tooth decay. According to recent reports, the average fluoride level is about 0.71 parts per million (ppm), which is within the recommended range for community water fluoridation. Some children may develop dental fluorosis, which appears as faint white spots on the teeth from consuming too much fluoride while teeth are developing. In the United States, fluorosis is typically mild and does not affect the health or function of the teeth. Decades of scientific research have shown that community water fluoridation at recommended levels is a safe and effective way to help prevent tooth decay.