the Capital’s inhabitants can look forward to less lime in the kettle and on the badeværelsesfliserne in the coming years. There are softer water in the taps, but it also has a downside.

indeed, There is a greater risk of several holes in the teeth, when the water is made softer, the sounds from the dentist Kim Ekstrand, associate professor and ph.d. at the Department of odontology at the University of Copenhagen, denmark. It is due to the calcium and fluorine to be pulled out of the water to make it softer:

– When we are counting on it, there is no doubt that the municipalities, which have less calcium and fluoride in the water, have more tooth decay than other municipalities.

Kim Ekstrand will not talk to the gains down, that is by reducing the amount of lime and fluoride in the water. But he believes forsyningsvirksomheden Hofor are too poor to inform the public that it also has consequences for the teeth, and that you have to do something to get the holes in first:

– I do not imagine that your teeth are falling out in the morning. But an extra filling for the year can do to the savings, a family would otherwise have been by getting less lime in the water, not the money saved anyway.

Keep the holes away

– Brush the teeth at least two times daily.

– do not Rinse the mouth after brushing.

– Use a toothpaste with at least 1450 ppm. fluoride.

– Children should daily use the amount of toothpaste, similar to the child’s lillefingernegl.

– Adults should use about two centimeters of toothpaste per brushing. A centimeter to the mouth and a centimeter to the undermunden.

– Use a mouthwash with fluoride.

Source: Kim Ekstrand, associate professor and ph.d. University of copenhagen, and Erik Arvin, a professor emeritus at DTU.

According to the dentist, one can historically see that the municipalities, which in a natural way is a softer water than, for example, in the metropolitan area, there are several that have gaps in the teeth.

the Article continues under the picture:
The more fluoride and lime in the water, the harder the water is, and the higher is the DMF-P – as is popularly said is the number of holes in the teeth. It shows a 2004 study of 15-year-old school students. Figure: Allan Bardow, associate professor emeritus from dental school

Social conditions, and oral hygiene also play a role when it comes to holes in the teeth, but drinking water also has a certain importance, backed up by Erik Arvin, professor emeritus at the institute for Water and Environmental engineering at DTU. He has, together with Kim Ekstrand has published an article in the Tandlægebladet with recommendations to the citizens and dentists to meet the problem.

– It is true that there are many factors that mean something. But our study shows statistically that the water content of calcium and fluoride has a clear impact, says Erik Arvin, but no matter whether you live in a municipality with hard or soft water, there is always the brushing needed to keep the holes in away.

You can see how hard the water is in your municipality here.

——— SPLIT ELEMENT ———

Water supply: We soften it slowly

In september 2017 began Hofor to deliver softer water for the Brøndby Municipality. Towards 2025 to 75 percent of their water to be softened. Photo: Natthawat Wongrat

The most important shield against cavities in the teeth is not drinking water, but good dental hygiene.

responding Hofor on tandlægernes warning that the softer water in the metropolitan area will mean more holes in the teeth.

– There is some misunderstanding here. We soften to it, which is called the medium of water. We have provisionally made in the oval. And that goes for quite a few years before we have softened to the medium water in the rest of our supply area. There are many places in Denmark, where the water is actually softer from nature’s hand, says Astrid Scotsman, press officer in the Hofor:

– We soften the, because it has some very significant environmental benefits. It will save the environment for a wide range of chemicals and soaps. We do not do it, because we would like to introduce more holes in the teeth.

But therefore I suppose it is still relevant to inform about the risks, which will soften the water?

– Yes, if there is an increased risk. But we must surely not make it five-six years before, we have softened water?

– the Water from our seven large, regional water utilities will be mixed together, so it gradually becomes softer. We soften only to the medium level, and that goes for quite a few years yet before all the water has been blødgøringsanlæg. So there is good time, if there should be some special initiatives. We would like to hear from the municipalities that already have softer water, on what they are doing.

See Hofors the forecast of the blødgørelse of water in the municipalities of Albertslund, Vallensbæk, Brøndby, Herlev, Rødovre, Hvidovre, Copenhagen and Dragør here.