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Conspiracy theories are nothing new. It’s just that the internet today makes it seem like there’s a nut job who thinks the world is flat around every corner.

The moon landing. Phony. The Edsel is a flop. Conspiracy by space aliens. The Red Wings not making the playoffs for two years in a row? CIA operation is behind that.

And then there’s the old one — fluoride in the municipal water supplies is a Communist conspiracy to brainwash the American population.

Yes, this little doozy has been a mainstay of certain groups such as the John Birch Society ever since the benefits of fluoride for protecting teeth were first discovered. It has gained traction recently by people thinking we’re all being poisoned by fluoride.

Fortunately, saner minds prevailed and continued to do so because fluoride is one of the best things a person can ingest to help strengthen their teeth. It also helps keep our bones strong.

With all the iron in the U.P., you may have thought iron was the best thing for teeth, but it’s fluoride. Here’s how it protects your teeth.

What is it and how does fluoride protect your teeth?

Think of your teeth as if they were mine, with minerals coming and going all day long. Demineralization and remineralization — those are the two processes where minerals are added to and lost from a tooth’s enamel layer. Demineralization is the problem. Minerals are lost from a tooth’s enamel layer when acids, formed from the bacteria in plaque and sugars in the mouth, attack the enamel. Fortunately, when you eat foods and drink water, minerals such as fluoride, calcium, and phosphate remineralize the teeth. The balance is what’s important. Too much demineralization without remineralization results in tooth decay.

People who think we should take fluoride out of the water supply are missing one little another fact — fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. That’s right, you can find it in many foods and natural water. Good luck signing a petition to remove fluoride from pickles, white wine, spinach, oysters, carrots, green and black teas, various fruit juices, Russet potatoes, asparagus, and even chicken.

It helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth enamel more resistant to those acids from bacteria and sugars in the mouth. Fluoride also has the cool effect of reversing early cases of decay. For kids under 6, fluoride becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth. This makes the teeth resistant to the assault of acids trying to demineralize the teeth. Fluoride also speeds remineralization and disrupts acid production in the mouth.

When is fluoride the most beneficial?

It was originally thought that only children benefit from fluoride, but new research shows that topical fluoride from toothpaste, mouth rinses, and fluoride treatments are important to help adult teeth fight decay. For children, it’s long been known that children between 6 months and 16 years need fluoride to help build their teeth.

Fluoride treatments with Dr. Egger

Conspiracy theorists aside, fluoride is one of your teeth’s best friends. At Dr. Egger’s we give our younger patients concentrated fluoride treatments, usually with fluoride gel in trays. But we can also provide fluoride for adults who have less-than-awesome enamel. Plus, seniors’ teeth need fluoride, especially to stem decay around long-placed cavities and such.

Is it time for your twice-yearly cleaning and exam? Call Dr. Egger’s at (989) 773-3560 to make your appointment.