Short Answer: Yes.
Fluoride is a very potent chemical, That can cause developmental defects, stunt skeletal growth, and was used in World War II by Nazis to make entire populations lethargic, and people put this in our toothpaste and our Water? Yes. With good reason.
Back in 1901 Dr. McKay of the Colorado State Dental Association Set up Practice in Colorado springs and was surprised to find a large portion of the population with Brown stained teeth. Collaborating with Dr. G.V. Black, the Father of Modern Dentistry they discovered that teeth with this brown staining had a very low prevalence of decay. It wasn’t until 1931 that McKay’s years and years of research payed off resulting in the discovery of water borne fluoride.
Fluoride has recently become a large point of controversy, because in high amounts it can be very dangerous. Half a tube of adult toothpaste can be lethal to a 3 year old. However, in low amounts like 0.7 mg/L the fluoride is enough to strengthen the teeth with almost no risk of any other side effects, even the brown stain is not seen at the levels fluoride is used in drinking water. When consumed in amounts that are too high, it can lead to brown stain on teeth and “Colorado Brown Stain” (Fluorosis) Discovered by Dr. McKay.
While unsightly, this brown stain is linked with teeth highly resistant to decay. In even higher amounts this may lead to pitting (Large holes on the surface layer of the tooth). However the optimal level shown in the research of lowest risk of side effects and highest effectiveness of the fluoride is 1.1 mg/L in order to be safe, drinking water was lowered to 0.7mg/L.
Communities like Salmon Arm that have no fluoride in the water need to obtain fluoride from different sources. This can be in the form of a supplement, normal toothpaste, high fluoride toothpastes like Prevident and fluoride treatments from your dentist. Talk to your dentist about what he thinks is best for you in your situation. Fluoride varnishes provide more fluoride and have less risk of swallowing high amounts, these provide more fluoride to your teeth than toothpastes, rinses, and gel trays.
