Melbourne’s Water Quality Affects Your Teeth

Melbourne’s Water

The bustling city of Melbourne is known for many things: diverse culture, breathtaking scenery, and the people themselves. There are a lot of things the city takes pride in, but how many of you know that it also has the safest tap water in the world? You read that right! With its high-quality water, it’s no wonder Melbourne residents are having it good. The government adopted water fluoridation as part of its commitment to help residents improve their oral health, and it’s been around since the 60s and 70s. Their water quality has a significant effect on this aspect of their well-being, so for those curious about how to maximise its full effects, today’s article will help you understand its specific characteristics.

What is water fluoridation, and how does it affect our teeth?

Water fluoridation is the process of adding fluoride to the drinking supply to reach a certain level that helps prevent tooth decay. The mineral is added to the water treatment plant, where it is monitored closely by trained professionals. They strictly adhere to the Australian drinking water guidelines, ensuring that the water has just enough chlorine in it to help ward off tooth decay.

We know fluoride is an active ingredient in dental products since it helps fortify teeth by strengthening the enamel, which makes the teeth resistant to acid attacks from bacteria. These bacteria thrive on sugar and eat through the enamel, which leads to tooth decay and cavity buildup. Dental issues are like thieves in the way they sneak up on you in the most unlikely times, so at least with water fluoridation, Melbourne residents are ahead with their teeth care. As helpful as it is, one shouldn’t be so complacent when maintaining their dental health, so make sure you drop by and schedule a visit to your local Toorak dentist so they can check your teeth for issues.

Does water fluoridation have negative effects?

Even though fluoridated water has its benefits, it’s important to keep a balanced consumption to keep your tooth in pristine condition. There’s a cap on how much of the mineral you can add to water to reap its benefits. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 1 milligram per liter or 1 part per million. Technically, water already has fluoride among its minerals, but too much of one thing will always be detrimental to one’s health. Dental fluorosis is one of the typical disorders of excessive fluoride where the tooth starts to develop white spots. Otherwise called mottled enamel, the stains caused by excessive fluoride intake do not go away. If you’re lucky, mild cases only have a few visible white streaks or spots here and there, but severe cases make one look as if they have rotten or dirty teeth because of the black or brown spots. If you suspect that you or anyone you know has it, it’s best to run to emergency dentist toorak so they can assess and advise you on what to do next. If you’re unsure of your teeth’s condition and if it requires emergency procedures, you can always look up a guide to dental emergencies or contact your local dental office to schedule an appointment if you think it may be something else.

Does adding chlorine to drinking water have any effect?

Since fluoride is mentioned, it’s also important for people to know that the mineral chlorine is added to water as well. Doing this helps kill harmful bacteria and microorganisms that may lead to disease. If you remember, centuries ago, many people died of typhoid fever and dysentery, and it all started from consuming infected water. Disinfecting drinking water supplies didn’t happen until the early 1900s, which is still in practice today. But like fluoride, consuming too much chlorine is detrimental to one’s health.

One of the negative effects of chlorine overconsumption is tooth enamel erosion. Your tooth becomes more exposed to bacteria and acid because it’s stripped of the protective enamel, making it easier for bacteria to attack and cause cavities. If that’s not bad enough, consuming sugar, citrus, and soda also aids in tooth erosion.

All in all, adding both fluoride and chlorine is advantageous to Australian citizens. If there’s one downside to this, chlorine has a pretty strong and distinct smell, which can be bothersome to others. This usually happens when the mineral is initially introduced into the water system, hence the distinct taste and smell. Although it usually goes away, there are some things you can do, like putting the water in the pitcher uncovered for the strong smell to leave the water, or you can just use a water filter.

Preventive dental care should still be religiously practised.

Ever since the government implemented water fluoridation in the country, Australian citizens, both young and old, had a good run and significantly boosted oral and dental health. Records show that there’s a decrease in tooth decay among children, but be that as it may, it’s still best to remain consistent with your dental health routine.

Tips to help protect your teeth from cavity buildup.

Schedule dental appointments regularly. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: schedule regular dental check-ups for the timely thorough cleaning and to see if you have potential dental issues.

Brush and floss your teeth. Everybody brushes their teeth, but some opt not to floss for fear that they might develop a tooth gap. There’s no real claim to this; you need to floss your teeth to get between the spaces your toothbrush can’t reach to avoid plaque buildup.

Change your diet and lifestyle. Try to cut down on your sugar intake since it attracts bacteria that can ruin your tooth’s enamel and cause cavities. While you’re at it, make sure you also limit, if not totally cut down, caffeine and alcohol since not only does it stain your teeth but it also aids in the enamel’s corrosion. Smoking is also bad not only for your teeth but your lungs as well, so consider quitting ASAP if you want to care for and maintain your pearly whites for a long time.

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