Thursday, August 14, 2008

Flouride - Is It Necessary?

My daughters two bottom teeth, now having sprouted through, had me wondering about how to care for them. I turned to a brand I trust, Weleda, and looked for some children's toothpaste -- I was curious. Well, my interest peaked when, reading the label, I noticed they made clear that there was no fluoride in it. Hmmm . . . No Fluoride? Why? I had always been under the idea, perhaps mislead all these years, that fluoride was good. Fluoride helps prevent cavities and makes our teeth strong right? This is what I was taught. So, I decided based on this new discovery, to get on the web and Google, "Is fluoride good for you?" You may want to do the same -- apparently it may or may not be depending who you're asking.

I came across some interesting facts about fluoride; Here's an excerpt from a website -- www.drjaygordon.com (look for it on the links page (he also lists some other links that may be of interest as well on his site).

New research proves old-time dentists' premise was wrong. Fluoride's possible benefits, if any, are topical. So there's no good reason to swallow fluoride or put it into the water supply.

The old dogma is beginning to unravel. British researchers report in the British Medical Journal that fluoridation studies are flawed. A Canadian Government report found fluoridation does more harm than good. A US National Institutes of Health Panel found most tooth decay studies, including hundreds on fluoride, scientifically invalid. Even UNICEF, the organization that protects children, reports, "more and more scientists are now seriously questioning the benefits of fluoride, even in small amounts."

What's more unbelievable is that the chemicals most used to fluoridate drinking water are silicofluorides, contaminated waste product of industry, that were never safety tested on humans or animals. Meanwhile we are conducting a massive toxicological experiment. Our children are the test subjects

Silicofluorides are linked with children's increased lead absorption. Studies link fluoride chemicals to bone fractures, lowered IQ, thyroid dysfunction, cancer, allergies and more.

And the American Dental Association is working on a new and improved cavity fighter, even better than fluoride - calcium and phosphate - the minerals they overlooked in the early 1900's.

There is, as always, two sides to the argument but the fact that it is a debate at all makes me question what's really needed to maintain healthy teeth. The long term side effects of fluoride, a toxin it seems to your system, were not researched when our government mandated we have it put in our drinking water. Perhaps the debate can be won that at low levels fluoride may not be so damaging but at high levels? -- Well it's like that old idiom about moderation being key right? This information, well known this day and age, is out there so, when I found out that Danon was releasing a fluoride beverage for kids marketed as a better option to soda (c'mon they're both no good) I was stunned. I mean what's the deal moms? All too often these days I feel like I took the red pill and went down the rabbit hole -- no regrets -- It's just that around every corner there's another old time myth being debunked that serves as a reminder of why I have such little faith in the pharmaceutical industries of our great nation.



1 comment:

Tiffany said...

ciao di italia, isabella! i, too, started researching the good vs. bad of flouride when i stumbled upon a bit of info that fluoride at an early age can leave white spots on teeth. it's a never ending battle with the pharmaceutical companies since many things like immunizations and fluoride in the water are mandated by our government. is it all really necessary? it would be so much nicer if the risks and benefits were given to you up front and you had the freedom to choose what is best for your child.