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Frequent Consumption of Bottled Water Increases the Risk of Cavities
In recent years, bottled water dispensers have become common in many schools and households. While they offer great convenience for daily drinking, a new study by foreign scientists has revealed a downside to bottled water: children who frequently drink bottled (purified) water significantly increase their risk of developing cavities.
According to reports: Researchers at the Australian Oral Health Center found in a related investigation that the number of 14-15-year-olds with permanent cavities increased by 71% over six years. The researchers clearly pointed out that this is closely related to the popularity of bottled water and sports drinks in the 1990s.
The reason is that ordinary bottled water contains very little or no minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, and more importantly, it lacks fluoride, which helps strengthen tooth enamel (the semi-transparent, calcified tissue covering the outermost part of the tooth). This significantly increases children's risk of cavities.
This is because minerals like calcium and phosphorus, as well as fluoride, are crucial for promoting tooth growth and maintaining dental health. Calcium and phosphorus are the main building blocks of teeth. About 99% of the body's calcium is concentrated in bones and teeth. For both infants and adolescents, if the body's calcium needs are not met, or if the ingested calcium cannot be absorbed and utilized for various reasons, it will affect the strength of the teeth.
Teeth can become loose due to calcium deficiency, making them more susceptible to corrosion by bacteria in the mouth, leading to cavities. Fluorine in fluoride can penetrate the enamel on the tooth surface, forming a fluorapatite substance that is resistant to acid, thereby strengthening teeth, fighting bacteria, and protecting the oral cavity.
The human body contains fluorine in various tissues, but it primarily accumulates in teeth and bones. This is also confirmed by epidemiological surveys: in countries with a high incidence of cavities, the prevalence of enamel hypoplasia is also high.
After discovering this, many countries began adding appropriate amounts of fluoride to tap water so that people can get corresponding protection for their teeth while drinking. Of course, too much fluoride in the water is not good either, as it can cause dental fluorosis, which is also detrimental to dental health. China stipulates that the fluoride concentration in drinking water should be less than 1.0 mg/L.
Experts point out that calcium and fluoride are essential minerals and trace elements for the human body, and water is an important, and sometimes primary, source for obtaining these substances. Therefore, experts suggest that parents should limit their children's excessive consumption of bottled water and prioritize drinking tap water.
Schools should also do their best to provide conditions for students to drink clean, hygienic boiled water, so that they can ingest essential minerals and trace elements from their drinking water to ensure the health of their teeth and bodies.