What are fluoride’s main benefits?

Fluoride’s claim to fame is its ability to stop and reverse tooth decay: when topically applied to the teeth (e.g., in toothpaste or water), it’s integrated into the structure of the enamel. It simultaneously inhibits demineralization and promotes remineralization of the tooth, as well as blocking the activity of plaque-forming bacteria.^[1] Toothpaste containing 1000 to 1250 ppm of fluoride prevents caries to a greater degree than non-fluoride toothpaste.^[2] Fluoride also plays a role in bone formation and has been used for preventing osteoporosis.^[3]