Excessive Fluoride

Many dentists feel that fluoride is primarily responsible for the reduction in tooth decay that has been seen over the last few years. Fluoride is reported to make teeth stronger and more resistant to acid attack, so it comes highly recommended amongst orthodontic professionals, who even suggest fluoride supplements during infancy when teeth are forming to in order to facilitate the growth of healthier, stronger teeth.

This practice has recently come into question by a growing number of professionals and concerned citizens for several reasons. To begin with, children receive fluoride from multiple sources. The excess intake of the element has been linked to conditions such as skeletal/dental fluorosis, weakened teeth and bones, impaired mental functioning such as lowered IQ, birth defects, attention deficit disorder and other medical issues.

For young children, these concerns are even greater as their systems are just beginning to develop.  Recent research brings into question the use of fluoride toothpaste or supplements during the first few years of life.  According to a study by the University of Ohio, of 1,189 seventh-grade children in India, nearly 13 percent had fluorosis, a primarily aesthetic condition that affects adult teeth during their development. Children in this study who had used a fluoride toothpaste (8.2 percent) before age 6 had almost twice the rate of fluorosis, as children not exposed to fluoride at that age. In the United States, about 95 percent of children 6 years or younger use fluoride toothpaste."

The following is from research that documents the prevalence of the use of fluoride and fluoride supplements in young children: in a study consisting of 1, 996 children ages two and under, eleven percent of those younger than one year of age and nearly 60 percent of children between one and two years of age reportedly used a fluoride toothpaste. Dietary fluoride supplements were used about equally in these age groups (about 16%).

Exposure to fluoride may be more prevalent than one may think. Below is a list of common sources of the element.

Common Sources of fluoride:

• Tap water
• Foods prepared with tap or fluoride treated water
• Toothpaste
• Soda pop
• Infant formula
• Mouth rinses

 People should take precautions against exposing their children to this potentially damaging chemical. Some politicians and community groups are apparently lending a hand (we emphasize the word "some"). Recently, local governments in several states have adopted measures against treating public water supplies with fluoride. One concern sighted was the potential for fluoride poisoning stemming from intake which exceeds the recommended levels as children may ingest fluoride from multiple sources. However, many states have either already adopted the practice of treating public water supplies while others are moving towards that end.

We have benefited significantly thanks to modern science; however, we may also have reached a point where we are needlessly inundating the population, especially children, with medications, pollutants and toxins. With enough diligence and information, hopefully someday we can all move towards living a more natural, toxin-free lifestyle.