More Fluoride; Less Teeth

Environmental News Network ^ | October 15, 2003 | NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation

[nyscof]

Total tooth loss increased while Americans steadily receive more fluoridated water and food, according to recent government statistics.

Fluoride, hailed as a cavity preventive is supposed to enhance tooth retention; but fails expectations.

In 1999, 24.4% of Americans over 65 were reported edentulous(1) by the Centers for Disease Control, ranging from 14% in Hawaii (9% fluoridated) to 48% in West Virginia (87% fluoridated).

However, the April 2003 Journal of the American Dental Association reports toothlessness averages 30.3% with poor seniors suffering the highest rates at 45.1%.(2)

Yet 65.8% of Americans receive fluoridated tap water, up 3.7% since 1992 (3) and virtually all Americans consume a fluoridated diet.(4)

This seems to be a trend

"The states that were awarded A's (in the Nation's Oral health Report Card(5)) for having the highest percentage of their population on fluoridated water had the lowest grades for the percentage of people who still had their teeth," according to an analysis by Hardy Limeback PhD, DDS, Head, Preventive Dentistry, University of Toronto(6).

Limeback found that "people were more likely to have missing teeth if they lived in the states where more than 50% of the population was fluoridated. Ironically, the states with the lowest percentage of communities with fluoridated water had the highest grades for oral health - in terms of missing teeth (e.g. more people kept their teeth if they lived in communities without fluoridation)."

Despite a high fluoridation rate, school oral health curriculum and fluoride supplement programs, 47% of 2 - 5 year old Kentucky children suffer tooth decay (7) at a rate much higher than the national average (8). So do New York City Children(9), Maryland children (10), and Connecticut children (11), all fluoridated.

Actually, dental crises appear in many fluoridated cities. (See: Cavity Crises In Fluoridated Cities http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof2/_pgg5.php3)

Embarrassed dentists, with no evidence, try to blame fluoride-free bottled water(12) for the cavity increase. But, instead of a fluoride deficit, dental journals report fluoride excess(13a-L). Water is only one of too many fluoride sources creating dental fluorosis, an unsightly, sometimes tooth destroying disease.

Lack of dental care not lack of fluoride is the real cavity promoting problem.(14) Medicaid-refusing dentists, poor insurance coverage, empty pockets, and/or lack of nearby dentists send many to hospital emergency rooms for dental care.

Louisiana's Medicaid program wouldn't pay for a woman's $70 tooth extractions but did pay thousands for her hospitalization for a fever, infection, pneumonia and subsequent heart attack initiated by the infected tooth, according to the Gainsville Sun (14a).

Severe tooth decay is responsible for 2/3 of hospital visits by children under six in New York State (15), where almost 70% of the population drinks fluoridated water. More fluoridated New York City children required cavity-related hospitalizations, proportionately, than two of New York State's largest non-fluoridated counties, Suffolk and Nassau, whether payment was made by Medicaid or privately.

Because of abysmal diets, an astounding 76% of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) preschoolers have cavities(16). But the lowest rate among AI/AN is in one of the least fluoridated states, California, according to a 1999 Oral Health Study.(17)

The emblem of dentists zeal are teeth discolored or disfigured by fluoride over-ingestion. Dental fluorosis, white spotted, yellow, brown or black and sometimes pitted teeth, the only outward sign of fluoride toxicity, that some say predicts fluoride-induced bone damage, is increasing in prevalence and severity in the U.S.(18) along with an increase in cavities(19).

Incredibly, 3% of those cavity-prone 6 - 14 year old AI/AN population have moderate or severe fluorosis which the American Dental Association defines as marked wear on biting surfaces, brown stain, and/or pitting.

It seems the dentist's major weapon, fluoride is shooting blanks and damaging teeth.

Over 91% of fluoridated communities use silicofluorides, recently linked to children's higher blood lead levels. Lead causes cavities(20) and displaces tooth building calcium in the body.(21)

Despite the evidence indicating dentist need and poor diet causes severe tooth decay - not fluoride deficiency, misinformed dentists still push fluoridation before too-trusting legislators.

Coalitions of public health professionals and doctors campaigned hard to convince Salt Lake City, Utah, to fluoridate its populace, which started October 1, 2003, despite a Utah study showing more hip fractures in fluoridated Brigham City compared to non-fluoridated Logan and Cedar City (22). And, Utah , the least fluoridated state (2%) has one of the lowest tooth loss rates.

Connersville, Indiana, dentists lobbied successfully for fluoridation (23) despite a study showing many Connersville children, specifically, already consumed too much fluoride.(24)

"Not only is fluoridation ineffective at reducing tooth decay; but it is exposing Americans to needless health problems and wasting dwindling tax dollars that could be used to actually save lives. Fluoridation must stop," says lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.

SOURCE: New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. PO Box 263 Old Bethpage, NY 11804

References on our website:

http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?objid=D1D1366D000000F8405A04F43BEDDD01

New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof http://tinyurl.com/ad9k

[citizenK]

Wasn't flouridation in the water a communist plot? - Maybe it was supposed to tax our economy like the Star Wars program worked on the Soviets.

[Leroy S. Mort]

from Why American's (sic) are SHEEPLES: FLUORIDE:

We discussed quite throughly the fluoridation of water supplies and how we were using it in Russia as a tranquilizer in the prison camps. The leaders of our school felt that if it could be induced into the American water supply, it would bring-about a spirit of lethargy in the nation; where it would keep the general public docile during a steady encroachment of Communism. We also discussed the fact that keeping a store of deadly fluoride near the water reservoir would be advantageous during the time of the revolution, as it would give us opportunity to dump this poison into the water supply and either kill off the populace or threaten them with liquidation, so that they would surrender to obtain fresh water.

I've always suspected my dentist of being a Commie mole. He enjoys the drill wayyyy too much. (adjusting tin foil cap),

[Mr. Mojo]

And flouride messes with one's precious bodily fluids as well ......one's essence.

[Clara Lou]

Yeah, and so does NaCl and Fe and Mg and ....

[Mr. Mojo]

I was making a Dr. Strangelove reference ;)

[goodnesswins]

I'd say the INCREASED ingestion of carbs/sugars has more to do with dental health than fluoride use....sheesh.

[onedoug]

"You know when Flouridation started, don't you Mandrake?"

[Clara Lou]

I knew. Just a weak attempt on my part at humor.

[Mr. Mojo]

"Mandrake, have you ever seen a Commie drink a glass of water?"

[Mr. Mojo]

"You know when Flouridation started, don't you Mandrake?"

"Well, no, I can't say I have, Jack." [said with a shaky voice]

[Jackson Brown]

Tooth loss has a LOT more to do with gum disease -- gingivitis/periodontal disease -- than tooth decay.

Fluoride is to prevent tooth decay, not gum disease.

[Sabertooth]

I took fluoride tablets as a kid, and have always used fluoride toothpaste. My teeth are white and as strong as granite.

That said, if people want fluoridated water, they should buy it at the store.

It's no one's business to be implementing behavioral controls by forcing the consumption of fluoride in our tap water. The water should be toxin and microbe free, and that's it.

I don't anyone putting stuff in my water, even if it's for my own good.

Fluoride's good, but the heavy hands of do-gooders are bad.

[Steve Eisenberg]

Severe tooth decay is responsible for 2/3 of hospital visits by children under six in New York State

How stupid does this author think we are? Until the recent privacy act, there was a board at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia emergency room with each child's DX. What with three accident prone kids, youngest now 11, I've seen that board a lot, and if something as wacky as tooth decay was on it even once, I'd remember.

[thegreatbeast]

More barbrastreisand from the eco-nazis. I do know that there is no quarreling with the fact that my generation has kept more of its teeth than the generation before, and for one simple reason: fluoridation.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

My niece had to have all four of her front teeth removed when she was two because of severe tooth decay. It does happen. But the reason was severe infections, which required massive and repeated doses of antibiotics according to her dentist.

I doubt that it is real common. And her parents took her to the dentist not the emergency room.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

What about better the fact that people take better care of their teeth?

[thegreatbeast]

Right you are. From the article:"Severe tooth decay is responsible for 2/3 of hospital visits by children under six in New York State..." Kids under six shouldn't have tooth decay unless they're consuming WAY too much sugar and sweets. Also, kids six and under are NOT drinking water!

[Possenti]

I don't [want] anyone putting stuff in my water, even if it's for my own good.

Exactly. The statist/RINO/neo-con/do-gooders still consider you a tinfoil hatter, though. (commie plot)

BTW - I live in Kentucky - the toothless capital of the world. I have drank non-flouridated water from a cistern all of my life. I'm 33, and still haven't had a cavity or any other dental problems. My brother's 36, and only had a wisdom tooth pulled.

[onedoug]

"Feed me, you said. And I was feeding you, Jack."