This Fluoride Fact Friday is going to be salty!
Fluoride is an anion similar to chloride and iodide. They are all negatively charged atoms that form useful salts with positively charged sodium.
Sodium chloride is the primary salt in table salt, sea salt, and pink Himalayan salt.
Sodium iodide is added to iodized salt to prevent goiter and other thyroid problems.
And sodium fluoride is used in toothpaste and fluoride supplements to prevent cavities.
The produce you eat naturally has fluoride!
Fruits and veggies often have this beneficial nutrient in them because fluoride can be found in soil. Raisins, carrots, spinach, and asparagus are the fruits and vegetables richest in fluoride. But to get the real cavity prevention benefits of fluoride, you need to drink fluoridated water and brush with fluoride toothpaste.
For more information: Foods and Drinks Highest in Fluoride
Teeth are the strongest part of your skeleton, and fluoride makes them even stronger.
Consisting of 96% minerals, tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. It is technically even harder than steel!
Fluoride makes enamel even stronger! Not by making it harder. But by making it less soluble in acid. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water adds another kind of power to the strongest part of your skeleton: resistance to acid attacks that cause cavities.
We’ve also got a fluoride science quote today!
“Fluoridation is one of the four great, mass preventive health measures of all time.” Dr. Luther Terry
Surgeon Generals warn us against the dangers of cigarettes. They also have opinions about fluoride.
The ninth Surgeon General of the United States – who was the very first to warn the public against the dangers of smoking – described fluoridation as one of the greatest preventive health measures.