The Story of Fluoridation | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

The Story of Fluoridation | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

The Story of Fluoridation

It started as an observation, that soon took the shape of an idea. It ended, five decades later, as a scientific revolution that shot dentistry into the forefront of preventive medicine. This is the story of how dental science discovered-and ultimately proved to the world-that fluoride, a mineral found in rocks and soil, prevents tooth decay. Although dental caries remains a public health worry, it is no longer the unbridled problem it once was, thanks to fluoride.