Scientists Say: Fluoride

Fluoride (noun, “FLOOR-ide”)

Fluoride is an electrically charged form of the element fluorine.

An atom that carries such an overall charge is called an ion. Fluoride is a negative ion with a -1 charge. That’s because each fluoride ion contains nine (positively charged) protons and 10 (negatively charged) electrons.  

Fluoride strengthens the enamel that makes up the outer layer of our teeth. That makes it an important component of toothpastes and other dental products. Many places also add fluoride to their drinking water. They don’t add much. The recommended level is just three drops of fluoride per 200 liters of water. But even that amount can reduce dental cavities by about 25 percent. That’s according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).