Was reading this random article that said fluoride toothpaste wasn't even a thing until like the 1950s, and cavities were way more common back then. Kinda made me wonder if it's all fluoride or partly better dental habits in general. I mean, my grandma swears by baking soda and salt (yuck, ikr?), but her teeth are surprisingly good. Makes me think: how much difference does fluoride actually make? Curious if anyone knows more about this stuff or has heard different stories.
My dentist explained it to me once like this: fluoride basically helps strengthen the enamel, making it harder for cavities to form in the first place. But it's def not the only factor. Diet, brushing habits, even genetics play a role. My dad grew up using tooth powder (similar to your grandma's baking soda trick), and his teeth were decent too. So fluoride helps for sure, but it's probably not the whole story...more like one important piece of the dental health puzzle.
"fluoride helps for sure, but it's probably not the whole story...more like one important piece of the dental health puzzle."
Totally agree with this. Fluoride toothpaste is great and all, but honestly, I've had times when I was super broke and just grabbed whatever cheap toothpaste was on sale (or even used baking soda in a pinch, lol). My teeth didn't suddenly fall apart or anything. But yeah, diet and brushing habits definitely matter a ton. I noticed when I cut back on sugary drinks and snacks, my dentist visits got way less stressful—even without splurging on fancy toothpaste.
Also, genetics are weirdly powerful. My sister brushes religiously, flosses daily, uses fluoride everything, and still gets cavities like clockwork. Meanwhile, I'm over here being lazy half the time and somehow skating by cavity-free (knock on wood...). So fluoride's helpful, sure, but it's def not magic. Just one piece of the puzzle, like you said.
