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To Fluoridate or Not to Fluoridate: That is the Question


To continue the teeth theme, we are lucky to have fresh spring water flowing from the roots of a tree for our household water supply. Obviously, the tree does not fluoridate the water. Given my son’s recent dental surgery and problem with early childhood caries, we have been told conflicting advice about giving him systemic fluoride available by prescription. The cardiologist, my hygienist, and a friend told us that we should be giving our youngest child supplemental fluoride. The pediatric dentists said that topical applications from toothpaste and rinses is enough. I have a friend who spent thousands of dollars for a filter to remove fluoride from their drinking water. A neighboring city just failed to pass an initiative to remove the fluoride from the drinking water, whereas a larger neighboring city failed to pass a resolution to add fluoride to the water. Dentists have come out on both sides of the issue. When you google the issue, even more conflicting information is present. Click here to read about warnings against systemic fluoride (including fluorosis). In fact, the American Dental Association recommends infants under one year of age avoid fluoridated water all together, according to Mothering Magazine. In fact, a Harvard study linked fluoridated water to bone cancer. For information in support of systemic fluoride, click here.

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Comments

  1. Ami Scott says

    April 29, 2007 at 7:05 am

    I don’t beleive in flouride. I’ve read too much studies with research saying it doesn’t help as much as we’re told it is. I also have a sensitivity to it. While I can get away with using it in toothpaste, in any concentrated forms such as mouth wash or cleansers used by the dentists, I get really sick. It took me years to figure out what it was. Besides, I shouldn’t have to worry about my little ones swallowing it. I’ve never understood why it says on the toothpaste not to swallow and yet they put it in our drinking water? So no flouride drops, flouridated toothpaste, or nursery water with flouride added. My little one’s have little sugar, brush twice a day, have no flouride, and they have beautiful healthy teeth. And they also floss to the best of their ability with little animal shaped picks. So where’s the real benefit?

    Reply
  2. Jennifer Lance says

    April 29, 2007 at 2:12 pm

    We went to the pediatric dentist, and he confirmed what they said at UCSF, systemic flouride is no longer recommended. He said it usually takes about five years for everyone to catch onto to new recommendations. He had attended a conference, in which the presenter asked how many dentists did not prescribe systemic flouride. He was the only one. He does recommend flouride toothpaste, especially since my son has already had so much decay.

    Animal flossers….I’ll have to look for those!

    Reply
  3. Sandy says

    May 5, 2008 at 7:35 am

    I am a retired dental hygenist. We were taught if flouride is in your system when your teeth are forming the enamel ( the last tooth component to be formed before teeth erupt) the enamel containes fluorapatite which is highly resistant to cavities. I have 3 children who all had flouride drops when they were little and now have adult children who all have never had a cavity. I believe it works. Dentists would be putting themselves out of business if they perscibed flouride drops for their young patients. Think about that?

    Reply
  4. nyscof says

    May 11, 2008 at 5:42 am

    Fluoride is ruining kids teeth

    Fluoride exposure is rising and causing children’s tooth imperfections, ranging from white spots to brownish discolorations and pitting (fluorosis), dentist Elivir Dincer reports in the New York State Dental Journal. (1)

    “Such changes in the tooth’s appearance can affect the child’s self-esteem which makes early prevention that much more critical,” writes Dincer.

    Children, aged 2 to 7 years, can swallow about one-quarter milligram of fluoride with every brushing because their swallowing reflexes are not fully developed, reports Dincer.

    “Children from the age of 6-months to 3-years should not have more than one-quarter milligram of fluoride per day. Brushing the teeth of a 2-year-old twice a day will expose the child to about one-half milligram, exceeding the allowable [daily] limits” [from toothpaste alone], writes Dincer.

    Intentionally swallowing the toothpaste which is likely, given the pleasant flavor of children’s toothpaste, increases children’s fluorosis risk, Dincer reports.

    Fluoridated water, supplements, mouth rinses and/or foods add to daily fluoride intake.

    Up to 48% of children have fluorosis, with 4% moderate/severe (yellow/brown teeth), reports the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2). Fluoride over-exposure at ages 22- to 25-months can discolor the permanent two front teeth while they form under the gums.

    Two-thirds of US water suppliers add fluoride chemicals to reduce tooth decay. This fluoridated water is used to make many foods and beverages. (3) “Water and processed beverages (e.g., soft drinks and fruit juices) can provide approximately 75% of a person’s fluoride intake,” according to the CDC. (4)

    Mixing infant formula with fluoridated water (5), fluoride supplements (6) and foods with naturally higher fluoride levels, such as tea and ocean fish, independently increase risk of dental fluorosis. Fluoride-containing pesticide residues remain on various foods. Fluoride is also inhaled via ocean and shower mist and is in some medicines.

    The adequate intake of fluoride from ALL sources to avoid moderate fluorosis (not mild white spots) according to the National Academies of Science (9) is

    — 0.01 mg/day for 0 to 6-month-olds
    — 0.5 mg/day for 7 through 12 months
    — 0.7 mg/day for 1 to 3-year-olds

    Why isn’t this information reaching the public?

    In 2000, dental researcher AK Mascarenhas wrote, “There is substantial evidence that fluoridated water, fluoride supplements, infant formulas, and fluoride toothpastes are risk factors for fluorosis,” alone and together in “Risk factors for Dental Fluorosis: A review of the recent literature,” in Pediatric Dentistry, 4/22/2000.

    “It’s obvious that fluoridation is dosing our children with uncontrollable and undesirable amounts of fluoride,” says attorney Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. “Besides affecting teeth, fluoride can be hazardous to your general health,” he says. “Since fluoride is neither a nutrient nor essential for healthy teeth and no child is, or ever was, fluoride deficient, it’s time we stop adding unnecessary and costly fluoride chemicals into water supplies,” says Beeber.

    Over 1700 professionals joined Environmental Protection Agency scientists in calling for an end to fluoridation. (7) Join the over 11,000 individuals supporting them by signing the petition asking for a Congressional investigation at
    http://congress.FluorideAction.Net or http://www.FluorideAction.Net

    References:

    1) “Why Do I Have White Spots on My Front Teeth,” by Elvir Dincer, DDS, New York State Dental Journal, January 2008, Page 58 Volume 74, Number 1

    http://www.nysdental.org/img/current-pdf/JrnlJan2008.pdf

    2) Surveillance for Dental Caries, Dental Sealants, Tooth Retention, Edentulism and Dental Fluorosis, CDC, MMWR August 2005

    http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/figures/s403a1t23.gif

    3) USDA National Fluoride Database of Selected
    Beverages and Foods – 2004 http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Fluoride/Fluoride.html

    4) US Centers for Disease Control – Enamel Fluorosis http://www.cdc.gov/FLUORIDATION/safety/enamel_fluorosis.htm

    5a) US Centers for Disease Control – Infant Formula and Fluoride
    http://www.cdc.gov/FLUORIDATION/safety/infant_formula.htm#12

    b) Academy of General Dentistry, “Monitor Infant’s Fluoride Intake,” March 2007
    http://www.agd.org/support/articles/?ArtID=1187

    c) American Dental Association, “ADA offers interim guidance on infant formula and fluoride,” November 2006 http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/adanews/adanewsarticle.asp?articleid=2212

    6) American Dental Association, Evidence Based Dentistry: Systematic Reviews Fluoride Supplements
    http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/ebd/reviews/fluoride_supplements.asp

    7) http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html

    8) http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof/_pgg10.php3

    9) The National Academies of Science, “Dietary Reference
    Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride,:1997

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Dr. Sears’ Happy Baby: The Organic Guide to Baby’s First 24 Months : Eco Child’s Play says:
    October 13, 2009 at 10:07 am

    […] in your water.”  I have asked my pediatrician, as well as two pediatric dentists. All agree, systemic fluoride is not effective no matter where you live. Topical fluoride protects […]

    Reply
  2. 5 Green Products: BabyBjorn BPA-Free Baby’s First Cup to Biodegradable gWipes says:
    October 18, 2010 at 10:06 am

    […] toothpastes. I do think that they help prevent cavities and strengthen teeth. I do NOT believe in fluoridated water, including nursery water, or in any other systemic […]

    Reply

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About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

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