Thursday, February 12, 2015

The Truth About Fluoride in the Water

This is in response to some factually incorrect statements about fluoride in water made in a recent podcast interview between Endurance Planet and Dr. Phil Maffetone (whose approaches have been very instrumental in my own training):

Fluoride is NOT a chemical; it's a mineral that is naturally occurring in just about all water sources. The amount of fluoride in community water sources is increased to a certain level (0.7 parts per million) to help prevent tooth decay. This practice has been around for 70 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called community water fluoridation "one of the 10 great public health achievement of the 20th century."

Tooth decay is the #1 chronic disease of childhood today. It's a disease because it's caused by bacteria. While community water fluoridation is effective in helping to prevent decay, the sad fact is that it's often not enough in this day and age when we have so much added sugar in our diets--sugar that is rotting our teeth. Kids need to consume less cavity-causing sugar (juice, soda, etc.) for better dental and overall health. BUT, if we took fluoride out of our water systems, decay rates in the US would skyrocket. 

Decades ago, it was contended by a small few that fluoridation of water was a communist plot. Today, the arguments against fluoridation as "carcinogenic," a "chemical," a way to "medicate" us, etc. are just as baseless.

Community water fluoridation is wholeheartedly endorsed by:
  • American Medical Association
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
  • American Dental Association
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • World Health Organization
  • Many other highly reputable groups

Arguments against fluoride in water are baseless. Community water fluoridation has been making a difference for children and adult’s teeth for over 70 years! If you want to keep all of your teeth into your golden years, be sure to drink tap water. 

But don't take my word for it. Here are some sources you may want to check out to learn more about community water fluoridation:
  • www.ILikeMyTeeth.org (operated by the American Academy of Pediatrics)
  • More on the American Academy of Pediatrics' stance on community water fluoridation
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's info on community water fluoridation
  • American Dental Association's statement on community water fluoridation
  • American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's guidelines on fluoride, including community water fluoridation

6 comments:

  1. I'm sure they don't vaccinate their kids either.

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    1. Well said. Many of the folks who don't vaccinate their kids also think fluoride is a toxin and unsafe.

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  2. I have actually stopped listening to most EP podcasts because I can't take the pseudoscience nonsense anymore.

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    1. I am reaching that point, too, Matt. It seems that many of their podcasts are increasingly a source of junk science. The evidence in favor of fluoride's safety and effectiveness is overwhelming. It's irresponsible for such garbage to be spread in a one-sided manner.

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  3. You wrote:
    "when we have so much added sugar in our diets--sugar that is rotting our teeth. Kids need to consume less cavity-causing sugar (juice, soda, etc.) for better dental and overall health. BUT, if we took fluoride out of our water systems, decay rates in the US would skyrocket."

    So you acknowledge that the real problem is sugar, right?

    So maybe people that don't eat lots of sugar won't benefit from fluoride, right?

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    1. That's not at all what I'm saying. While sugar is a big contributor to tooth decay (sugar fuels cavity-causing bacteria), tooth decay can be traced to many factors beyond diet, including transmission of bacteria, lack of routine dental care, poor brushing and flossing, and inadequate exposure to fluoride. Fluoride is proven to prevent tooth decay. That's why it's in toothpaste and water.

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