Many people are turning to bottled water in an effort to be healthier. Unfortunately, the very purity that attracts them to such water is not necessarily doing them many favors. Indeed, normal tap water contains valuable minerals that facilitate your health, including that of your teeth.
For years, US cities have been adding fluoride to our drinking water supplies. This mineral serves to fortify your tooth enamel as you drink, protecting you from tooth decay. Communities across the nation have all experienced a significant decline in cavities ever since instituting their fluorinated drinking water; unfortunately, you’re not getting this same fluoride in the average bottled water product.
The American Dental Association tells us that the average 160-pound person should be injecting 4 mg of fluoride a day. This is easy to accomplish with normal toothpaste and water fluoridated with 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter. However, most bottled waters have less than 0.3 mg per liter.
There have not yet been any hard studies on the oral health effects of eating bottled or filtered water, but it is reasonable to assume that doing so leaves you more vulnerable to tooth decay. Consult our Lynnwood dentistry clinic to learn more about how you can protect your teeth.
