Impact of imported beverages on fluoridated and nonfluoridated communities

In order to compare the effect of beverages "imported" from nearby communities on the fluoride intake of a fluoridated community with that of a nonfluoridated community, 45 different carbonated and juice drinks were sampled from Houston (fluoridated) and San Antonio (nonfluoridated) and examined for their fluoride concentrations. In spite of the fact that an individual lives in a low fluoride community, the risk of fluorosis exists through fluoride consumption in beverages as well as from the water supply and fluoride therapy. It is therefore important for dental practitioners to carefully evaluate their patients' entire fluoride exposure before prescribing fluoride supplements.