# Flouridated water helps by coating the teeth, or absorbtion in the digestive track? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [February 2, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543 "2007-02-02T14:54:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/1 "2007-02-02T14:54:40Z")
Cecil did not make it clear: Flouride in drinking water protects one’s teeth by caoting the teeth, or is there some benefit to having the flouride absorbed in the digestive track when the water is swallowed? ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/2 "2007-02-02T15:21:06Z")
The column is [Is fluoride in water a good thing or a danger?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/070202.html) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/3 "2007-02-02T16:46:01Z")
I don’t think putting _flour_ in water has any benefit for your teeth at all. (I think you may have meant _fluoride_ and _fluoridation_.) 😉 Now, if I’m reading [this](http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/full/131/7/887?ck=nck) rather technical article correctly, the fluoride in drinking water acts by direct topical application to the tooth enamel rather than via absorption into the bloodstream, per the bolded section below: > [@](#): > > In summary, fluoride present in the water phase at low levels among the enamel or dentin crystals adsorbs to these crystal surfaces and can markedly inhibit dissolution of tooth mineral by acid. **Fluoride that acts in this way comes from the plaque fluid via topical sources such as drinking water and fluoride products.** Fluoride incorporated during tooth development is insufficient to play a significant role in caries protection. Fluoride is needed regularly throughout life to protect teeth against caries. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/4 "2007-02-02T17:06:15Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] I don’t think putting _flour_ in water has any benefit for your teeth at all. (I think you may have meant _fluoride_ and _fluoridation_.) 😉 [/QUOTE] There appears to be absolutely no use of the world _flour_ in the OP. Not sure what you are referencing… 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/5 "2007-02-02T17:23:50Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] There appears to be absolutely no use of the world _flour_ in the OP. Not sure what you are referencing… 😕 [/QUOTE] Let me help you out: > [@The OP](#): > > **Flour** idated water helps by coating the teeth, or absorbtion in the digestive track? > > Cecil did not make it clear: **Flour** ide in drinking water protects one’s teeth by caoting the teeth, or is there some benefit to having the **flour** ide absorbed in the digestive track when the water is swallowed? ---
**Author:** ![mcorsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@mcorsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcorsen)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/6 "2007-02-02T22:15:26Z")
It always gets my ire up a bit to hear that the only people who don’t want fluoride in their water are conspiracy theorists. Fluoride is meant to be applied topically and that really is the only way it is beneficial to teeth. A trip or call to your dentist will confirm this. So will just reading the side of fluoride treatment products. They say: (usually in bold, all caps letters) “do not swallow”. Fluoride is toxic, and to my knowledge there are no studies that conclude that small dosages over a long period are just fine. In fact there are several that suggest this causes problems with the thyroid. Just do a web search on “fluoride thyroid” and you’ll find plenty of information on the subject. The benefits of drinking fluoridated water just to have a little bit of fluoride wash over your teeth are iffy at best - especially when it’s in just about every kind of toothpaste you can buy. And if that’s not enough fluoride for you, it’s available in greater dosages in prescription toothpastes and fluoride mouthwashes. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/7 "2007-02-02T22:22:21Z")
[QUOTE=mcorsen] It always gets my ire up a bit to hear that the only people who don’t want fluoride in their water are conspiracy theorists. Fluoride is meant to be applied topically and that really is the only way it is beneficial to teeth. A trip or call to your dentist will confirm this. So will just reading the side of fluoride treatment products. They say: (usually in bold, all caps letters) “do not swallow”. Fluoride is toxic, and to my knowledge there are no studies that conclude that small dosages over a long period are just fine. In fact there are several that suggest this causes problems with the thyroid. Just do a web search on “fluoride thyroid” and you’ll find plenty of information on the subject. The benefits of drinking fluoridated water just to have a little bit of fluoride wash over your teeth are iffy at best - especially when it’s in just about every kind of toothpaste you can buy. And if that’s not enough fluoride for you, it’s available in greater dosages in prescription toothpastes and fluoride mouthwashes. [/QUOTE] Plus… Have you ever seen a commie drink a glass of water? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/8 "2007-02-02T22:54:25Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Let me help you out: [/QUOTE] :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/9 "2007-02-03T00:03:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Fluoride is toxic As we all learned a week or so ago, so is water. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/10 "2007-02-03T00:32:10Z")
[QUOTE=John W. Kennedy] As we all learned a week or so ago, so is water. [/QUOTE] My god the commies are putting water in our fluoride. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/11 "2007-02-03T00:44:28Z")
You beat me too it **John W Kennedy.** [Hyponatremia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyponatremia) can be caused by consuming too much water. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/12 "2007-02-03T02:29:19Z")
According to the ADA, at this link: [http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/fluoride\_article01.asp#systemic](http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/fluoride_article01.asp#systemic) > [@](#): > > Systemic Fluorides > > Systemic fluorides such as community water fluoridation and dietary fluoride supplements are effective in reducing tooth decay. These fluorides provide topical as well as systemic protection **because fluoride is present in the saliva.** > > Community Water Fluoridation > > Fluoride is present naturally in all water sources. Community water fluoridation, which has been around for over 50 years, is simply the process of adjusting the fluoride content of fluoride-deficient water to the recommended level for optimal dental health. That recommended level is 0.7 - 1.2 parts fluoride per million parts water. Water fluoridation has been proven to reduce decay in both children and adults. While water fluoridation is an extremely effective and inexpensive means of obtaining the fluoride necessary for optimal tooth decay prevention, not everyone lives in a community with a centralized, public or private water source that can be fluoridated. For those individuals, fluoride is available in other forms. (emphasis added) ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/13 "2007-02-03T04:59:53Z")
Fluoride. Fluoride. Fluoride. I know. I know. I know. Just doesn’t feel proper when I’m typing it. One of them words I frequently type incorrectly. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/14 "2007-02-03T05:10:11Z")
Our baby books (you know, the ones every parent reads when having a kid–What to Expect When You are Expecting, etc.) indicated that children need to have fluoride in their diet while their teeth are developing, b/c the fluoride in their diet makes the enamel more resistant to decay. So if you don’t consume fluoride while your permanent teeth are actually being formed underneath the gum, you will be more prone to cavities. This is why some infant vitamins actually have fluoride in them–you know, so the baby will actually \*ingest \* it. ---
**Author:** ![copperwindow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/15 "2007-02-03T07:11:52Z")
If there’s such a great need for health in the community, why don’t we also add vitamin C and calcium to tap water? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/16 "2007-02-03T07:28:49Z")
[QUOTE=copperwindow] If there’s such a great need for health in the community, why don’t we also add vitamin C and calcium to tap water? [/QUOTE] Calcium would clog up the pipes eventually, and vitamin C would taste horrible. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/17 "2007-02-03T15:22:47Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] …, and vitamin C would taste horrible. [/QUOTE] 😃😃😃 I was happy to see that Unca Cece was pretty evenhanded, admitting to a bit of a libertarian though process about the whole concept. What’s next, forcing people to wear seat belts? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/18 "2007-02-03T16:25:12Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: [/QUOTE] Don’t feel bad. Having worked in the industry (one of the products a former employer produced were electronic ballasts for fluorescent lighting), I’ve gotten very sensitized to that particular misspelling; it sticks out like a flashing neon sign to me. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/19 "2007-02-03T16:46:42Z")
[QUOTE=copperwindow] If there’s such a great need for health in the community, why don’t we also add vitamin C and calcium to tap water? [/QUOTE] Actually, it’s not uncommon to add essential nutrients to food. Iodized table salt is the most obvious example. Also, I think now most bread sold in the US has folic acid as an additive, to prevent neural tube defects in the babies of women who are in the very early stages of pregnancy. So, even though you are being a smartass, in fact there are food additives aimed at promoting community health. Do you think something is wrong with that? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543/20 "2007-02-05T19:10:33Z")
[QUOTE=gazpacho] My god the commies are putting water in our fluoride. [/QUOTE] They want to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flouridated-water-helps-by-coating-the-teeth-or-absorbtion-in-the-digestive-track/390543.md?page=2)