Will's Thoughtstream

All over the world tooth decay is decreasing, even though most of the world doesn't have flouride in the water When the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) nominated water fluoridation as one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century, it published a graph (see Figure 1), which showed the reduction of cavities in US children coupled with the increase in water systems that have been fluoridated since the 1960's. The CDC referred to the graph with the statement:

"as a result [of water fluoridation], dental caries declined precipitously during the second half of the 20th century."

However, what the CDC failed to mention is that similar declines in tooth decay have occurred in virtually every western country, most of which do not fluoridate water (see Figure 2).

If you ingest enough, you can get dental fluorosis. Some alarmists say it is dangerous. The more serious health  concern is that dental fluorosis is not the only harmful health effect that results from overexposure to fluoride. Fluoride has been linked in government and scientific reports to a wide range of harmful health effects, including: bone and tooth decay (including dental and skeletal fluorosis, bone pathology, arthritis, and osteoporosis) Alzheimer's, memory loss and other neurological impairment, kidney damage, cancer, genetic damage, and gastrointestinal problems. In addition, fluoride has been found to leach lead from old water pipes and soldering material, which has resulted in increased lead levels in people.

• Since mid-1997, the F.D.A. has mandated all toothpastes containing fluoride to carry this warning: "If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help, or contact a poison control center immediately.". Even on many fluoridated children's toothpastes, there is a warning to keep out of the reach of children under 6years of age!
• That according to the Physicians' Desk Reference: " In hypersensitive individuals, fluoride occasionally cause skin eruptions such as atopic dermatitis, eczema, or urticaria. Gastric distress, headache, and weakness have also been reported. These hypersensitive reactions usually disappear promptly after discontinuation of the fluoride."
• That the Canadian Dental Association recommends: "Fluoride supplements should not be recommended for children less than three years old."
• That from 1990 to 1992, the Journal of the American Medical Association published three separate articles linking increased hip fracture rates to fluoride in the water. (Click here for copy of article) That in the March 22, 1990 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Mayo Clinic researchers reported that fluoride treatment of osteoporosis increased hip fracture rate and bone fragility.