Skip to content
COMPLIMENTARY CONSULT
  • (304) 201-3672
  • Payment Calculator
  • Refer a Patient
  • Our Practice
    • Who We Are
    • What Makes Us Different
    • Meet Our Doctors
    • Meet Our Team
    • Technology
    • Community Involvement
    • Refer a Patient
    • Patient Reviews
  • Orthodontics
        • Braces
          • Types Of Braces
          • Braces For Kids
          • Braces For Teens
          • Braces For Adults
          • Braces FAQ
          • Payment Calculator
        • Invisalign
          • About Invisalign
          • Invisalign For Kids
          • Invisalign For Teens
          • Invisalign For Adults
          • Invisalign FAQ
          • Payment Calculator
        • Other Treatments
          • Early Orthodontics
          • Brava Independent Movers
          • Gum Contouring & Reshaping
          • Enamel Shaping
          • Zoom Whitening
  • Patient Resources
    • Your First Visit
    • Patient Forms
    • Refer a Patient
    • Brace Bucks
    • 7andUp Kids Club
    • Financial Information
    • Orthodontic Emergencies
    • Orthodontic FAQ
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Info
    • Charleston, WV
    • Hurricane, WV
    • Huntington, WV
    • Ashland, KY
  • COMPLIMENTARY CONSULT
  • Our Practice
    • Who We Are
    • What Makes Us Different
    • Meet Our Doctors
    • Meet Our Team
    • Technology
    • Community Involvement
    • Refer a Patient
    • Patient Reviews
  • Orthodontics
    • Braces
      • Types Of Braces
      • Braces For Kids
      • Braces For Teens
      • Braces For Adults
      • Braces FAQ
      • Payment Calculator
    • Invisalign
      • About Invisalign
      • Invisalign For Kids
      • Invisalign For Teens
      • Invisalign For Adults
      • Invisalign FAQ
      • Payment Calculator
    • Other Treatments
      • Early Orthodontics
      • Brava Independent Movers
      • Gum Contouring & Reshaping
      • Enamel Shaping
      • Zoom Whitening
  • Patient Resources
    • Your First Visit
    • Patient Forms
    • Refer a Patient
    • Brace Bucks
    • 7andUp Kids Club
    • Financial Information
    • Orthodontic Emergencies
    • Orthodontic FAQ
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Info
    • Charleston, WV
    • Hurricane, WV
    • Huntington, WV
    • Ashland, KY
  • (304) 407-3371
  • Payment Calculator
  • Refer a Patient
Complimentary Consult
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Tiktok
  • Youtube

The History of Fluoride and Healthy Teeth

Live Life Smiling

The History of Fluoride and Healthy Teeth
  • Holmes and Palmer Orthodontics
  • December 7, 2022

IN ORDER TO EARN the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance, a tube of toothpaste must contain fluoride and must NOT contain sugar. Trace amounts of fluoride have been added to drinking water across the country for the better part of a century to prevent cavities. The history of fluoride’s connection to public dental health is a fascinating one.

Natural Fluoridation in Colorado Springs

Local dentists in early 1900s Colorado Springs began to notice a strange pattern in their patients’ teeth. Many of them had something they called “Colorado brown stain” without having tooth decay. Today, we understand that condition to be fluorosis, a condition caused by too much fluoride exposure while the adult teeth are developing. Locals were getting it because of the high levels of naturally-occurring fluoride in the water supply.

Dentists wanted to find out if there was a way to keep the cavity-preventing qualities of fluoride without the teeth-staining effect. The test case was Grand Rapids, Michigan, where fluoride was added to the drinking water. Over the next few years, the rate of childhood tooth decay plummeted by a whopping 60% with only a few mild cases of fluorosis and no other adverse effects. This was huge.

Modern Water Fluoridation

After the success of fluoridated drinking water in Grand Rapids, communities across the country adopted fluoridated drinking water, and the CDC counts it as one of the top ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. Today, over half of American communities get the dental health benefits of fluoridated drinking water. It might not make a huge difference in the dental health of someone who can afford regular dentist visits, but it’s a game-changer for poor communities.

It might seem odd that adding fluoride to water could make such a difference, but it’s similar to the way we add iodine to salt in order to prevent goiters, bake with enriched flour to help digestion, and drink milk with added vitamin D to prevent childhood rickets.

Finding the Goldilocks Zone of Fluoride

The fluorosis of Colorado brown stain proved that too much fluoride is a bad thing, but no fluoride at all leaves teeth vulnerable to decay. The CDC recommended level of fluoride in drinking water is 1.2 parts per million. That’s a tiny amount, but it makes a huge difference for dental health. However, to prevent fluorosis, parents should be careful to only use small amounts of fluoride toothpaste to clean the teeth of their babies and toddlers, and everyone should spit it out rather than swallow it.

What Does Fluoride Actually Do for Our Teeth?

So what makes fluoride so good at preventing cavities? It’s actually a key building block in tooth enamel. When we eat and drink a lot of sugary or acidic things, minerals are pulled out of our tooth enamel, weakening it and leaving it vulnerable to erosion. Preventing demineralization is why it’s important to limit sugar consumption, but we can fight for our teeth on the other side of the equation with remineralization by brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water.

Come to Us With Questions About Fluoride!

To learn more about the role of fluoride in toothpaste or drinking water, don’t hesitate to ask us or check out sources like the ADA or CDC. We want to make sure our patients have all the information they need to feel confident in their dental care and to understand why we put so much emphasis on daily dental hygiene habits.

We love seeing our patients’ healthy smiles!

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

REQUEST A CONSULT

LET’S GET STARTED!

Complimentary consult
Patient reviews

EVERY SMILE TELLS A SPECIAL STORY

We are thankful for the opportunity to serve our community with excellent care and take pride in our mission of having a patient-centered philosophy. Check out what our patients are saying about us!

READ more
Shawna B.
My son is a patient and everyone is so nice and very Great with Patients.Dr is amazing and always so good at explaining everything...I would refer these Drs and Nurses 100 times over...Thank You all for everything you do to make sure my babys have a beautiful smile...😁
Shawna B.
My son is a patient and everyone is so nice and very Great with Patients.Dr is amazing and always so good at explaining everything...I would refer these Drs and Nurses 100 times over...Thank You all for everything you do to make sure my babys have a beautiful smile...😁
Norenea C.
Three of my children are patients of this office and I have to say that the staff and drs are all very polite & courteous. They really take the time to explain everything to their patients in ways that make sense for every age.
Norenea C.
Three of my children are patients of this office and I have to say that the staff and drs are all very polite & courteous. They really take the time to explain everything to their patients in ways that make sense for every age.
Lisa L.
My daughter, Gabi, goes to the Teays Valley/Hurricane office. She’s not had anything but good experiences. Everyone is super nice from the receptionist to the doctor. She’s having a great experience with her braces. The hygienist is always super helpful with any questions we may have. They have been amazing through all of my daughters care so far.
Lisa L.
My daughter, Gabi, goes to the Teays Valley/Hurricane office. She’s not had anything but good experiences. Everyone is super nice from the receptionist to the doctor. She’s having a great experience with her braces. The hygienist is always super helpful with any questions we may have. They have been amazing through all of my daughters care so far.
Jane E.
It isn't always easy to find providers that are especially patient and kind to patients with special needs. This group ALWAYS go put of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable. The staff is wonderful! We are extremely blessed to have the orthodontic cate we need from this business.
Jane E.
It isn't always easy to find providers that are especially patient and kind to patients with special needs. This group ALWAYS go put of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable. The staff is wonderful! We are extremely blessed to have the orthodontic cate we need from this business.
Pam C.
All Dr. And staff were very professional and friendly. Would definitely recommend their service.****
Pam C.
All Dr. And staff were very professional and friendly. Would definitely recommend their service.****
Autumn C.
My sons had appointments to get braces put on and mouthpiece to help with overbite issues. The staff was phenomenal when it came to helping and comforting my child with autism and they were super friendly at making my youngest fill comfortable every time we’ve visited them. Highly recommend them!!
Autumn C.
My sons had appointments to get braces put on and mouthpiece to help with overbite issues. The staff was phenomenal when it came to helping and comforting my child with autism and they were super friendly at making my youngest fill comfortable every time we’ve visited them. Highly recommend them!!
Amber P.
Very friendly and welcoming staff. My son was nervous, but they made him feel safe and excited about getting braces. I would highly recommend Holmes & Palmer Orthodontics to anyone in need of braces.
Amber P.
Very friendly and welcoming staff. My son was nervous, but they made him feel safe and excited about getting braces. I would highly recommend Holmes & Palmer Orthodontics to anyone in need of braces.
Kelley M.
This is my second child to receive orthodontic care with Dr. Holmes. This practice is efficiently run and the staff is always friendly. We’ve never waited more than 10 minutes to be seen. Highly recommend!!
Kelley M.
This is my second child to receive orthodontic care with Dr. Holmes. This practice is efficiently run and the staff is always friendly. We’ve never waited more than 10 minutes to be seen. Highly recommend!!
Genesa J.
I truly believe they have the patient's best interest in mind. My daughter's previous orthodontist pressured us to start services for her at a very young age. The honesty, care and treatment we have experienced from Holmes & Palmer Orthodontics has been phenomenal.
Genesa J.
I truly believe they have the patient's best interest in mind. My daughter's previous orthodontist pressured us to start services for her at a very young age. The honesty, care and treatment we have experienced from Holmes & Palmer Orthodontics has been phenomenal.
Stacy N.
My daughter always feels safe and listened to when getting treatment! Her teeth look amazing.
Stacy N.
My daughter always feels safe and listened to when getting treatment! Her teeth look amazing.
Our locations

Come by one of Our offices

  • Charleston, WV
  • 867 Oakwood Road
    Charleston, WV 25314
  • (304) 343-3672
Huntington office
  • Hurricane (Teays Valley), WV
  • 3659 Teays Valley Road Suite 200
    Hurricane, WV 25526
  • (304) 201-3672
Hurricane office
  • Huntington, WV
  • 451 Kinetic Drive Suite 200
    Huntington, WV 25701
  • (304) 343-3672
Charleston office
  • Ashland, KY
  • 2000 Carter Ave.
    Ashland, KY 41101
  • 606-388-2561

Charleston

Hurricane

Huntington

Ashland

Complimentary Consult

QUICK LINKS

Main Menu
  • Our Practice
  • Orthodontics
  • Patient Resources
  • Contact Us

LOCATIONS

  • Charleston, WV
  • Hurricane, WV
  • Huntington, WV
  • Ashland, KY
  • (304) 201-3672

CONTACT HOURS

Monday8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday8:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday8:00am – 11:00am

FOLLOW US

Complimentary Consult
© Copyright 2025 Holmes & Palmer Orthodontics | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Accessibility

Marketing & Web Design by HIP