Are PCVs Getting Enough Fluoride?

Following your regular dental routine from the USA may not be enough to ward off dental problems during Peace Corps service. In the USA, we have access to Fluoride in the drinking water and in oral care products. This may not be the case during service. Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) often serve in countries with limited access to Fluoride. Do PCVs know to adjust their oral care habits to compensate for the supply levels in the host country?
How Much Fluoride is Available In the USA?
Fluoride helps reduce tooth decay. Some countries fluoridate their water. That means adding a controlled amount of Fluoride to the drinking water supply. But some countries do not.
The World Health Organization suggested adding 0.5 to 1.5 milligrams of Fluoride per liter of drinking water to ward off tooth decay. However, that amount is dependent on the climate, local environment, and access to other sources to Fluoride.
In the USA, we have easy access to Fluoride. The US supplies 73% of the US population with fluoridated water. Our toothpaste contains Fluoride. Dental rinse has it too. Even some dental floss has it.
So brushing, flossing, and rinsing daily may be good enough when living in the USA. But following your normal routine from the USA may not be enough to ward off dental problems in countries that do not fluoridate their drinking water.
How Much Fluoride is Available in Your Host Country?
What about your host country? If your water comes directly from the ground or river, do not expect it to contain any Fluoride at all. If you pump the water, there is a good chance it is ground or well water.
Some countries do not fluoridate their drinking water supply at all. And even if you are serving in a country that does fluoridate the water, it might not reach every person in the country. Does it reach the remote areas that PCVs often serve in?
Did you buy or receive your toothpaste, dental rinse, or floss in country? Did you check the label to see how much, if any, Fluoride is in it? Is it enough?
How Do PCVs Bridge the Gap?
The first step is knowledge. Ask the Peace Corps Medical Officer (PCMO) about the level of fluoridated water in the country. Does that fluoridated water reach your service site?
Also ask the PCMO for fluoridated toothpaste, dental rinse, and floss. How often and how much? If they quote the “normal routine” for the USA, ask for an adjustment to specifically compensate to the levels of Fluoride at your service site and host country. Are there other ways, products or consumables to compensate during service?
And access to enough Fluoride is only one part of the oral care needed. You still need routine dental cleaning and evaluations to catch budding problems in time. And you may need to visit the dentist much more often than what the American Dental Association recommends for the USA.
Make sure you have frequent visits to a qualified dentist for routine dental cleaning and evaluations during service. Check on the amount of fluoridated products you are using and drinking. Adjust accordingly to minimize dental problems from service. But like everything else in life, too much Fluoride can be harmful too. Find that balance!
Any other suggestions on how PCVs can minimize dental problems during service? Let us know!
Share your tips to avoid dental problems from service!