When Frederick McKay got to Colorado Springs in 1901 to set up his first dental practice, no one knew what he would soon help to discover: the connection between Fluoride and tooth decay. The young dentist was alarmed to find teeth the color of chocolate in most of his patients — "The Colorado Brown Stain" they called it. But there was almost no rot. Some said it was because of the water, and over time McKay and others found that some fluoride prevents tooth decay, but too much, and teeth turn brown. Decades later scientists found the right concentration for the best results, and in the '40s some cities began to fluoridate their water. But Colorado Springs has no need for that. Thanks to fluorine-rich granite, its water is naturally high in the mineral. In fact, the city actually dilutes the concentration with water piped from west of the Continental Divide, keeping teeth in the Pikes Peak area healthy and pearly white.
About Colorado Postcards
Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado.
