I have had trouble finding reliable and conclusive information about the controversy surrounding the use of fluoride in toothpaste, water and dental practices. I hope some of you might have information that you can share with me so that I can better understand the use, or avoidance of fluoride.
I would be (extra) grateful if you would also provide the source for your information, (i.e. my dentist, internet site, my neighbor, the lady at the store, a book, personal observation, etc.) because I find references illuminating.
I hope this question doesn't open an ugly can of worms. I think people should do what they feel is right and are comfortable with, as a family. In other words, I am not coming from a side or to condemn any choice, but am trying to empower myself and my family with more information about something that I don't fully understand. Thanks for your time and I appreciate your answers.
ETA: Do you feel differently, and/or have you noticed a difference in your research findings, between fluoride being added (or filtered out of) water and of being in or out of toothpaste/dental practices? In other words, does your opinion, feelings and thoughts change when it's used internally vs. externally?
Thanks all for your input. I have come to understand that this controversy, in different forms, has existed since the 1930's. It's actually a fascinating topic, and appears to have a great deal to do with cultural beliefs and effects (as in Finland), and geographical local (parts of China vs. New York). The World Health Organization has some interesting essays that I have found useful. I will continue to do research. Thank you again for the time you have spent thinking and responding to my question.
I've also cut and paste an response I wrote that sums up my research:
To answer question number one: brushing is important as soon as little one has a tooth. As soon as little one has several teeth next to one another, it is important to brush AND floss. Crazy silly to put in practice...but necessary and true. Twice a day!
Fluoride in *excess* is poisonous (even the natural/environmental factors can make drinking water unsafe - like in areas of China). Fluoride in the correct amount is desirable. It arrests oral disease and deterioration. Although it isn't related, I *think* about it sort of like iron. Too much = not good. The right amount = necessary. To little = not good.
It's tricky though, because toddlers will often swallow their toothpaste. This, in addition to fluoride added to city drinking water and/or other fluoride additions, can amount to TOO much fluoride. So, INHO, it is best to talk with a *trusted* dentist to figure out what is best for your child, their age and in for your area. (I'm in an area that doesn't fluoridate water, so it's actually not harmful for them to use fluoridate toothpaste, even if they're swallowing trace amounts.)
Also, depending on your diet and the amount you brush/floss, your need for fluoride drops or increases. My friend, who is a dentist, does not use fluoride toothpaste because she has a good diet, brushes and flosses multiple times a day and does a fluoride rinse (not sure if that is proper terminology) once every few months.
I love the world health organization and have found their articles very interesting:
http://www.who.int/oral_health/events/Global_consultation...
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/oralhealth/en/...
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
http://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/P_FluorideU...
http://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/G_FluorideT...
My research has pointed to topical fluoride every 6 months at the dentist as a good thing, but ingesting it in any way as a bad thing. The tube of toothpaste says to call Poison Control if you do, for Pete's sake!! And that's anything more than their recommended pea-sized amount. An 8 oz. glass of water has the same amount of fluoride as the pea-sized amount of toothpaste, so you can imagine the high levels we imbibe all the time. My dentist says he has seen an increase in fluorosis in his patients.
Here's a video about fluoride that I found when first investigating this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpjpHJEgjDw
I hate that you can buy fluoridated water in gallons in the baby section of the grocery store. It's terrible for their developing bones and brains!
I've heard random mumblings but until reading your post, I hadn't looked much into it. Here's what I found that resonated with me....
I live community that is completely divided on this issue. The city I live in is actually being fined because they are not adding fluoride to city water and this has become a huge political quagmire. We have a large population of very poor families who do not have access to dental care and many children in the schools deal with serious problems due to poor dental hygiene and decay which is worsened by a lack of fluoride. This then negatively affects their school work. Because of this, my neighbor, who is a pediatrician, has advocated for a long time for fluoridation. Most, if not all, dentists in my community are in support of it as well, even though it would likely lessen their profits. Some of the people who argue most strongly against fluoridation do not even live in my community, but are outside activists that come and speak at council meetings and who canvas for signatures. We were once asked to sign a petition outside of Target and when my husband asked for actual, validated research, the individual could not answer coherently except to claim that fluoride is a poison and that the push to add it to the water was being force on us by corporations and big government. I myself have gotten into heated discussions, again with people who live outside of my district because they believe that it is their right to not have fluoridated water even in the water district next to theirs while all at the same time, they do not want to acknowledge that lack of fluoride is a cause of actual health problems for others, mainly poor children.
I never had a cavity until I moved from a fluoridated area to to this area (at age 30) and got four in about one year. After that we actually started buying bottled fluoridated water. No more cavities. That isn't real research, but it is my actual experience.
Well, the fact that you can't give little kids flouride toothpaste got me wondering, why are older kids and adults using small amounts of poison on our teeth?
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/0...
There is so much information out there. The internet is a good source of information, if you are discriminating in your research. There is also a lot of bad information out there (see my last paragraph).
Flouride is naturally occurring in most water sources. The amount of fluoride in water varies quite a bit, though, so most communities try to ensure there is a consistent, specific (but relatively small) amount in their supply.
Fluoride, like many substances (some fat-soluble vitamins, salt, etc.), is useful/vital in small doses and harmful in large doses. Very large doses of fluoride would be necessary to cause the type of harm (i.e., death or injury) that some are espousing. Have you heard of any human dying from fluoride poisoning in this country? If someone did, it would be BIG news. And most communities in this country have fluoridated water.
And, finally, Dr. Mercola is a quack. Check out his website and look at what he is selling. He sells a tanning bed (with his name/brand on it!) for goodness sake!!! This is just one example of the tons of products he would like you to buy from him. The dude is a marketing machine, and you should definitely not base any of your health-related decisions on what he says. Be wary.
I have two sources of information about fluoride in water. One my father who was water commissioner in the sixties when they had the first push to put fluoride in water. The other is my daughter who is a has a degree in environmental sciences. Fluoride is a poison. It does prevent cavities when applied to teeth, but it is a poison. Those are the basic facts. Whether or not it is better to put it on teeth with toothpaste, at the dentist or have it in drinking water I don't know.
My dentist said to stick with the non-flouride training toothpaste til about age 5, and when you are sure she won't swallow it. He did use a new flouride that is "painted" on and dries instantly. She just had to eat only soft foods for an hour after. I do use the flouride toothpaste about once a week for her, and we practice spitting.
personally, as a child until i was 12 my mom had me use the fluoride rinses but when i was 12 i moved to my dads house who did not buy the the rinse. i had never had a dental issue until i moved to my dads :(
If you are looking for good dental health for you and your children, then diet is the best way to ensure it.
https://www.westonaprice.org/nutrition-greats/598-weston-...
Also, this past year, both the ADA and the CDC have issued statements admitting that flouride is bad for your teeth.
http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/safety/infant_formula.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20884921?dopt=Abstract
Dr Mercola also has numerous articles with references to research and legitimate organizations documenting the history, the toxicity and dangers of flouride.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/1...
Good luck in your research.
BTW - I was raised in California where we drank flouridated water and were given flouride treatments in school. I had 6 cavities as a child, when we moved away and the flouride treatments stopped, so did the cavities. My children have had absolutely no flouride and no cavities yet. They have perfect teeth.
MY friend Charla is so against this..she told me don't let them use floride on you or your kids ever... it is a depressant... and mass amounts they state are to comming our way in everything. Watch your bottled water as well... they are starting to put it in there as well. She told me to tell you to google it... you will find it. She has gotten me not to wear regular anti persperant (spelling sorry) deodrant for it plugs your glands and then you have a greater chance of getting breast cancer... it has something with the mercury in it.
You can find fluoride info both good and bad. Fluoride takes the iodine out of your system. Your thyroid needs iodine to function properly. Go to the internet and type in fluoride safety. Here are a couple of websites that you can look at. http://douglassreport.com/reports-2010/x600h6ab-fluoride/...
Also Dr. Mercola is very good. There are some things I disagree with him on but he usually is right on when it comes to health. His website is www.mercola.com
I also wouldn't buy his products. I checked them out and asked how they are made, his people called me and told me they would find out, and then he didn't answer me. That usually means they aren't made very good. Companies usually talk about their products and ingredients and where they get their ingredients, etc, etc if they are any good. Although they are probably better than or the same as Rite Aid, Safeway, Fred Meyer, Walmart brands.
N.
Health and Wellness Coach
Just from personal experience:
I grew up in the states with fluorinated water and always had a ton of cavities whenever we went to the dentist. My mom always had them put special stuff on my teeth and no one could figure out why I had so many problems. Fast forward 30 years, my husband and I are moving out of the country to central america. I go to the dentist and have 5 cavities that I get fixed before we leave. This country does not have fluorinated water and I recently go to the dentist after being gone for two years. Guess what? No cavities and the dentist says my teeth look great. After doing a bit of my own research I am convinced it's the fluoride in the water that was causing all my problems. Fluoride does occur naturally and you can get it from foods you eat. Check out mercola's website. I don't agree with everything he says but he has some good info about fluoride.
Fluoride in the water turns off your thyroid. Women have the most trouble with this. I did not use fluoride for my children. Instead I took sugar out of the family diet.
I had seen many cases of mottled teeth from Fluoride in the water supply.
My oldest daughter has exactly one (1) filling. She is an adult. My youngest has two fillings and she is an adult.
So what works best?
Make your own choices.
I don't know anything about the controversy about flouride use, but will tell you my family's experience. My mom had 7 kids. Half were born on military bases and half off base. Those whose pregnancies and birth were ON base have great teeth and no cavities. Those whose pregnancies and birth were OFF base have horrible teeth... very weak and many cavities. The difference, the military bases had flouride in the water and off base did not. We all however, had flouride regularly throughout our whole childhoods.
My boys were raised the first few years in the UK, and they do not put fluoride in the drinking water, thus all the comments about bad British teeth. We were told to buy water with fluoride added for mixing formula and the like so our boys would have strong teeth, and it has worked great. I had fluoridate water delivered by culligan until we returned here to the states a couple of years ago.
