Why is fluoride added to water?

To make water taste like soft drink.

No.

According to a prevailing study.

When fluoride is added to public water supplies.

At an average concentration of about 1 part per million or slightly below, it prevents tooth decay.

But how?

Enamel is the hard outer covering of our tooth.

It is primarily made up of hydroxyapatite.

Hydroxyapatite is a compound of calcium, phosphorus and hydroxide.

Now, when bacteria in our mouth feed on food particles, they produce acid.

This acid dissolves the hydroxyapatite leaving behind a residue of calcium and phosphate ions.

This results in a tooth decay.

Now, when we drink water containing fluoride.

The fluoride binds with calcium and phosphate ions forming fluorapatite.

As fluorapatite is less susceptible to acid attacks, it helps to stop the tooth decay process.

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