Pien Huang

Now, these results are controversial, but the analysis has spurred opponents of fluoridation to call for a new assessment of its benefits and its risks.

Now, these results are controversial, but the analysis has spurred opponents of fluoridation to call for a new assessment of its benefits and its risks.

Now, these results are controversial, but the analysis has spurred opponents of fluoridation to call for a new assessment of its benefits and its risks.

Okay, so the story starts at the turn of the 20th century, early 1900s, when dentists in the U.S. started noticing that people who live in certain areas have lower rates of tooth decay. And they don't know why until a few decades later, the 1930s, when they realized that in these areas, there's actually a higher than normal amount of fluoride in the water.

Okay, so the story starts at the turn of the 20th century, early 1900s, when dentists in the U.S. started noticing that people who live in certain areas have lower rates of tooth decay. And they don't know why until a few decades later, the 1930s, when they realized that in these areas, there's actually a higher than normal amount of fluoride in the water.

Okay, so the story starts at the turn of the 20th century, early 1900s, when dentists in the U.S. started noticing that people who live in certain areas have lower rates of tooth decay. And they don't know why until a few decades later, the 1930s, when they realized that in these areas, there's actually a higher than normal amount of fluoride in the water.

Yeah, naturally. And it's also in the 1930s that a team of scientists at the University of Pittsburgh proposed in a paper to add a controlled amount of fluoride to the drinking water to prevent tooth decay.

Yeah, naturally. And it's also in the 1930s that a team of scientists at the University of Pittsburgh proposed in a paper to add a controlled amount of fluoride to the drinking water to prevent tooth decay.

Yeah, naturally. And it's also in the 1930s that a team of scientists at the University of Pittsburgh proposed in a paper to add a controlled amount of fluoride to the drinking water to prevent tooth decay.

And then in the 1940s, cities started experimenting with adding fluoride to the water. So it starts with Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1945. By the end of the decade, dental examiners are reporting markedly lower cavities. And so hearing this, you know, other towns in Michigan, Texas, and Wisconsin start their own programs.

And then in the 1940s, cities started experimenting with adding fluoride to the water. So it starts with Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1945. By the end of the decade, dental examiners are reporting markedly lower cavities. And so hearing this, you know, other towns in Michigan, Texas, and Wisconsin start their own programs.

And then in the 1940s, cities started experimenting with adding fluoride to the water. So it starts with Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1945. By the end of the decade, dental examiners are reporting markedly lower cavities. And so hearing this, you know, other towns in Michigan, Texas, and Wisconsin start their own programs.

And that doubles the number of Americans who get fluoridated water to over a million. Wow. So if you fast forward to 1962, federal drinking water standards are updated to give fluoride guidelines. And then over the subsequent decades, more and more Americans get access to fluoridated water to protect against tooth decay. That figure is up to around 70% in the U.S. today.

And that doubles the number of Americans who get fluoridated water to over a million. Wow. So if you fast forward to 1962, federal drinking water standards are updated to give fluoride guidelines. And then over the subsequent decades, more and more Americans get access to fluoridated water to protect against tooth decay. That figure is up to around 70% in the U.S. today.

And that doubles the number of Americans who get fluoridated water to over a million. Wow. So if you fast forward to 1962, federal drinking water standards are updated to give fluoride guidelines. And then over the subsequent decades, more and more Americans get access to fluoridated water to protect against tooth decay. That figure is up to around 70% in the U.S. today.

Yeah, it's been the case for decades now. I mean, basically every toothpaste I've used throughout my entire life has had it in it. Plus it's in mouth rinses. It's in dental floss.

Yeah, it's been the case for decades now. I mean, basically every toothpaste I've used throughout my entire life has had it in it. Plus it's in mouth rinses. It's in dental floss.

Yeah, it's been the case for decades now. I mean, basically every toothpaste I've used throughout my entire life has had it in it. Plus it's in mouth rinses. It's in dental floss.

The science is clear, Emily. Fluoridating water lowers the numbers of cavities in people, which it does by restoring minerals to teeth that are lost when bacteria grow inside the mouth, especially after, like, say, drinking sugary drinks. And this is especially useful for lower-income families who might not have access to fluoride products like toothpastes and mouth rinses.

The science is clear, Emily. Fluoridating water lowers the numbers of cavities in people, which it does by restoring minerals to teeth that are lost when bacteria grow inside the mouth, especially after, like, say, drinking sugary drinks. And this is especially useful for lower-income families who might not have access to fluoride products like toothpastes and mouth rinses.