On the plus side, I smell a great opportunity for a longitudinal population study. 🤔

  • orclev@lemmy.world
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    8 days ago

    There are two ways to prevent tooth decay. First is the easy way which is to put fluoride in the drinking water. It’s easy and protects everyone, but particularly the poorer segments of the population that might struggle with things like preventative dentist appointments.

    The second way is the hard way which is to modify your diet to avoid foods high in sugars and carbs and to prefer more proteins and fiber. This is the approach some European countries take.

    If you do neither you will get significantly increased rates of tooth decay.

    • Sweetpeaches69@lemmy.world
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      8 days ago

      The irony here is that the Mormons in Utah LOVE sodas because it’s the only thing they can have. Tons of them are literally addicted to soda.

    • Ooops@feddit.org
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      8 days ago

      Actually lots of areas in Europe tested fluoride in water locally at some point. But they never found convincing evidence of this being preferably to getting fluoride the “classic way” (personalized in small doses already included in toothpaste).

      Are USians not brushing their teeth? Or have they changed the toothpaste formulas to exclude fluoride, too, now?

      • orclev@lemmy.world
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        8 days ago

        Fluoride in toothpaste does help as well but it only does so much, and yes some toothpaste brands also don’t include fluoride. To get the most out of fluoridated toothpaste you need to pair it with a better diet. Most Americans eat a diet that’s incredibly heavy in sugars and carbs as compared to Europe. That’s part of the reason why many European countries found little benefit to adding fluoride to their drinking water, their rates of tooth decay were already significantly less than in the US due mostly to dietary differences.

      • Hawke@lemmy.world
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        8 days ago

        It is possible to get fluoride-free toothpaste but it’s a bit of a niche/specialty item.