News and Views from kSero
Rethinking Flouride	January 6, 2008
Reviewed by Molly Reams from Scientific American, January 2008 For over half a century, the United States public has been informed that adding fluoride to toothpastes and the public water systems would help prevent tooth decay and reduce cavities. New research is examining the truth of the matter, and questioning if the benefits of fluoride actually exist, and if so, do they outweigh the potential side effects? Almost 60% of the US drinks fluoridated water today, and the Centers for Disease Control lists fluoridated water as one of the greatest health achievements of the century, along with vaccines and family planning. The practice of adding fluoride to water has spread to the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. However, some recent studies show that consuming large amounts of fluoride can increase the risk of certain diseases affecting the teeth, the brain, the thyroid glands, and the bones. Further, in 2006, the National Research Council presented a report that recommended the government reduce the current level of fluoride in water due to risks for adults and children. Fluoride is in many foods and beverages as well as toothpaste and municipality water sources, which increases the risk of overconsumption. In children, consistent exposure to fluoride can lead to discolored and damaged permanent teeth. In adults, the same level of exposure may increase the risk of bone fracture. Most treated water contains less than the EPA limit, but there is uncertainty over how much additional chemical we are consuming from food, beverages, and toothpaste. Most scientists and researchers still agree that fluoridated water has reduced tooth decay, but they advocate reducing the amount of fluoride in communities that have good dental care.