Many parents were likely surprised last week when they heard that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were proposing lowering the amount of fluoride that is added to fluoridated drinking water. After all, aren't the benefits of adding fluoride to water well known by health experts?
Adding fluoride to water is still important and is viewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century. Too much fluoride can cause problems though. Mostly the effects of too much fluoride are seen as mild staining of the teeth, with spots or lacy white markings on a child's teeth. More severe dental fluorosis can be seen as staining and pitting on the surface of teeth.
It is thought that a rise in dental fluorosis may be occurring because in addition to fluoridated water, children now have access to fluoride mouth rinses, prescription fluoride supplements, and fluoride treatments that dentists apply themselves.
It is important to note that the new proposal doesn't necessarily decrease the levels of flouride in drinking water. They simply recommend that the recommended level of fluoride be set at the lowest end of the previous recommended range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter. So if your fluoridated water supply is already at that lower level, as mine is at 0.74, then you won't see much of a change when the final recommendations about water fluoridation are made this spring.
Other issues to keep in mind about fluoride in water include that:
- newborns and infants who are under six months old usually don't need fluoride, and if not breastfeeding exclusively, will likely get too much fluoride if you prepare their formula with fluoridated water
- babies begin to need fluoride when they are about six months old, when you can begin to give them fluoridated tap water or bottled water with added fluoride
- most brands of bottled water, unless it is specifically marketed for use with babies, likely aren't going to have any fluoride
- kids who drink a lot of soda, sports drinks, flavored water, and/or juice, may not get enough fluoride, since those drinks are likely taking the place of fluoridated water. Keep in mind that the fluoride content of some drinks, is likely higher than you would think.
Are your kids getting the right amount of fluoride? As the need for new guidelines to update the amount of fluoride in drinking water shows, this is likely not as easy a question to answer as most parents believe. Talk to your pediatrician and dentist to make sure your kids aren't getting too little or too much fluoride.
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Most sodas, juices and other processed beverages have fluoride in them – especially if they are made in fluoridated areras.
Google USDA fluoride in foods database for specific fluoride content of many common foods.
Kids get way too much fluoride; yet tooth decay is rampant
for more info http://www.FluorideAction.Net
If you want fluoride in your water, put it in your own glass of water, leave the rest of us out of it.
If fluoride were “proven,” there should be evidence of its glory in Kentucky, which has been 100% fluoridated for over 40 years. Kentucky, however, leads the nation in the number of dental cavities in children, and in the number of completely toothless adults, according to government records. The same ineffectiveness is evident in many states and cities.
Most of Europe (16 countries) has rejected fluoridation and is 98% fluoride free. and the WHO reports that they have a better tooth decay rate than any fluoridated country.
There are many large scientific studies to show that that drinking fluoridated water has no effect on cavity reduction and to show that it causes cancer and other health problems. The best source for scientific information on fluoridation can be found here: (www.fluoridealert.org).
If you want fluoride in your water, put it in your own glass of water, leave the rest of us out of it.
If fluoride were “proven,” there should be evidence of its glory in Kentucky, which has been 100% fluoridated for over 40 years. Kentucky, however, leads the nation in the number of dental cavities in children, and in the number of completely toothless adults, according to government records. The same ineffectiveness is evident in many states and cities.
Most of Europe (16 countries) has rejected fluoridation and is 98% fluoride free. and the WHO reports that they have a better tooth decay rate than any fluoridated country.
There are many large scientific studies to show that that drinking fluoridated water has no effect on cavity reduction and to show that it causes cancer and other health problems. The best source for scientific information on fluoridation can be found here: (www.fluoridealert.org).
Vincent Iannelli, M.D., said, “…kids who drink a lot of soda, sports drinks, flavored water, and/or juice, may not get enough fluoride, since those drinks are likely taking the place of fluoridated water.”
Hey doc, where do you think soda, sports drinks flavored water and juice manufacturers get the process water to make these products? From the local municipal supply in the city the companies are located in. Do you suppose that water is fluoridated, doc? The stats say 70 percent of the US is fluoridated.
Wake up, doc, we’ve all been getting TOO MUCH fluoride. Instead of boosting its use and saying babies need it, you ought to read the research that shows it damages child IQ.
Douglas Yates
fluoridefreefairbanks.org
“Most of Europe (16 countries) has rejected fluoridation and is 98% fluoride free. and the WHO reports that they have a better tooth decay rate than any fluoridated country.”
From what I understand, areas of Europe that don’t have fluoridated water typically use fluoridated salt.
The WHO, since you mention them, states that “water fluoridation and use of fluoride toothpastes and mouthrinses significantly reduce the prevalence of dental caries” and that “water fluoridation, where technically feasible and culturally acceptable, has substantial advantages in public health; alternatively, fluoridation of salt and milk fluoridation schemes may be considered for prevention of dental caries.”
Effective use of fluorides for the prevention of dental caries in the 21st century: the WHO approach
“Babies begin to need fluoride…”
Is this a joke? Why on earth would the human body begin to crave something that’s neither natural nor helpful? Fluoride is not a mineral, vitamin, or other nutrient. It’s poison. Health effects aside, fluoride does cause permanent cosmetic damage with dental fluorosis. My girlfriend’s teeth are still mottled today from the time her parents gave her fluoride as a young child.
Not to mention the fact that tap water contains plenty of other terrible chemicals unrelated to fluoride. Want your kid drinking hormones from birth control, manufacturing pollutants, and medicines illegally flushed down the drain?
Adults wanting to drink up after knowing the facts is one thing. But please, let your child grow old enough to understand the dangers and make their own choice before you put poison in their mouth!
The board of the Santa Clara Valley Water District (in California) held a public meeting March 22nd on water fluoridation. This summer they are scheduled to vote on whether or not to fluoridate the water supply. The board and their staff were given 20 copies of a 70 minute cd of doctors explaining the history, origin, and health hazards of this toxic waste. Doctors included John Lee, John Yiamouyannis, and Phyllis Mullenix. The audio is posted at the website http://www.MaeBrussell.com. Just go to the bottom of the homepage.
If people were to burn a cd of that audio and spread it around (especially to churches, schools, health food stores and health clubs) you might find it very effective in waking up the public in your area. Good luck.
its amazing that all my friends and family have never heard of fluoride being bad. I kept it away from my newborns, but other members of the family gave them the water that advertises on the gallon bottle that it contains fluoride, like its a prize or a great thing.
I try to keep tap water away from them and i have on and off stopped using flouride toothpaste for me and never for the young ones.
If everyone thinks its useless and mostly poison, then why is USDA making the toothpaste manuf. put on the tube that if swallowed by kids in larger ammt than brushing you should contact the poison control right away. Its not overdose its overdosing on poison.
If you put flouride in your stomach from water you drink how the hell are your teeth getting stronger? its stupid and amazing as the top 10 invention of the 20th century. Somewhere someone got paid tons of money to print that fluoride is god’s gift to man.