No Fluoride in Salem, NH Tap Water. How Does This Impact Dental Health?

Three years ago, the town of Salem, NH started adding water from nearby Manchester to its water supply. With this water supply also came some fluoride, an important element in preventing tooth decay. Since Salem, NH doesn’t fluoridate their water supply, despite the recommendations of many dentists and health agencies, any fluoride that came in was quickly diluted to a negligible concentration. The small concentration of fluoride that was introduced was not enough to prevent tooth decay.

Fluoride can occur naturally in water, leading to some regions not having to add fluoride to the tap water since the natural levels are already high enough to prevent tooth decay. In some regions natural fluoride levels can actually be too high, as seen in some areas of the Binh Dinh Province in Vietnam, for example. No such natural fluoride source exists for Salem’s water, however, leaving the residents of Salem at risk of tooth decay.

Each community decides on the fluoridation of their water, but when such a decision is being made it’s worth keeping a few things in mind:

• Public drinking water fluoridation leads to fewer cavities – At this point the science is quite clear on the benefits of fluoridating the public water supply. A study by researchers at the University of York did a comprehensive review and found conclusively that fluoridating water reduces dental caries.
• Not fluoridating water is penny wise and pound foolish – Some argue that fluoridation is not a good use of taxpayer money and that they’d rather spend the money on something else. The flaw in this logic is that the lack of fluoride actually necessitates fillings, crowns, and root canals that end up costing people more than fluoridating would have cost in tax money. A study in the US found that tap water fluoridation can result in $32.19 in dental savings per person, per year. This ends up being a very signifiant return on investment since water fluoridation is relatively cheap.
• Little to no negative impact – In some communities the fluoride water levels can be on the high side. This can result in spots appearing on teeth, which are harmless but not cosmetically appealing. A cometic dentist, like the one in our Salem dental office can help hide or remove these dark spots. Other than that, the teeth are protected from tooth decay, preventing health complications associated with that. Many health agencies across the world have come to the conclusion that this is a small risk considering the benefit.

If the lack of fluoride in the water in Salem is a source of concern for you, bring it up in your next dental appointment. Our dentist would be more than happy to share some tools and resources that can help you maintain optimal oral health.