Overview

Early in the twentieth century dentists became aware that tooth decay, or dental caries, was a public health problem. Several scientists had investigated tooth decay and connected it to bacteria residing in the plaque or build-up on the teeth. Proper hygiene and care were being encouraged and research led to an unusual source of prevention—fluoride. Fluoride is a chemical found in water in some areas of the country. At very high levels it is toxic. Because of this fact, many groups objected to the addition of fluorine to the public drinking supplies of a town. The pros and cons of adding fluoride continue today.

Background

As the nineteenth century ended, researchers in the tradition of Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) and Robert Koch (1843-1910) proposed that bacteria might be a cause of tooth decay. The processing...