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UK Against Fluoridation

Friday, August 31, 2007

USA - Tax-funded dental care sparks legislators' concerns

In 93% fluoridated Georgia (NYSCOF "'The demand for dental care has been much higher than the state or anybody anticipated,' he said. 'The cost for dental care has been much higher than the state or anybody anticipated.'"

"prices for dental work in Georgia have soared beyond what companies could imagine when they came to the state almost a year ago. Amerigroup is paying more on a per-member, per-month basis for dentistry than for visits to family doctors, "

UK - Could fluoride be the answer?

Could fluoride be the answer?
Supporters of fluoride-treated water feel the move is crucial if the dental health of Calderdale people is to improve
FLUORIDE in our drinking water was today back at the top of Calderdale's health agenda. Councillors are seriously considering backing the controversial move after shock figures revealed the terrible state of the district's teeth.
Moves to put the chemical in water have caused outrage in the past, with protesters saying it can cause cancer, lead to osteoporosis, make children ill and disclolour teeth. If agreed by health bosses, fluoride could be in Calderdale's water within three years. Last night the council's health and social care scrutiny panel heard that a massive investigation into Calderdale's oral health had come up with 25 recommendations. They included support for a full review of fluoridisation.
Chairman of the committee Bob Metcalfe (Lab, Town) said: "This is a comprehensive report. Now we need to ensure it is distributed widely and acted upon. "There are some wonderful benefits to adding fluoride to water. There could be an improvement, especially in the teeth of very young children. But we need to carefully look at both sides of this controversial issue." Peter Coles (Lib Dem, Luddenden Foot) added: "Oral health in Calderdale is bad. But this report recommends how we put things right.
"The fluoridation issue is controversial, at the very least. To ask people to accept it in Calderdale would be very difficult. I speak to people on the doorstep and it's not popular. But it would have the biggest impact."
Diane Park (Lib Dem, Elland) welcomed a debate on the subject. "I am a mother of four and all my children have wonderful teeth," she said.
"I'm one of the people who don't like the idea of adding anything to the water, so I would like a full debate." She said: "I find it very worrying there are so many children in Calderdale with such poor teeth." The report also recommends schools should get more involved in educating children about good oral health.
It also urges that oral health be included in training for school governors and head teachers should consider their policies about food and drinks in schools. Councillor Coles supported the role of schools.
He said: "Fluoridation is only one example. There are many ways schools could improve the health of their community." The importance of access to dental care for people in residential homes was also stressed. And health bosses were urged to prioritise oral health services and ensure they were accessible, particularly in "vulnerable" areas such as Mixenden, where there was no dentist. Now approved, the report will be forwarded to the council's cabinet for discussion.

You are able to comment on the Yorkshire Evening Courier article, Seven have already

Australia - Letter from Geelong community health worker.

DAVID McRAE: Give us info and the vote
31Aug07
GEELONG has been bombarded with water fluoridation promotion by MPs, Barwon Water and Victoria's health chief Dr John Carnie. In ``Brush-off'' (GA 22/8) Carnie complains of criticism of his DHS booklet for its promotional slogans and poor science but the criticism is valid.
He is wrong to claim all authorities support fluoridation; see the recent statement to end fluoridation by 600 science professionals (www.fluorideAction.net). Nobel Prize winner for medicine (2000), Dr Arvid Carlsson, signed stating: fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology; it is really obsolete.
Dr Andrew Harms, former dental association president, signed with: water fluoridation is outdated and dangerous. Dr Harms, previously a promoter of fluoridation, is concerned that over 1000 tonnes of industrial fluoride is injected into Melbourne's water each year. The material data sheets from the supplier show that the fluorosilicic acid contains small amounts of arsenic and heavy metals. It is totally wrong to add any amount of the carcinogen arsenic to drinking water.
The 500-page report on fluoride in drinking water by the USA's National Research Council (2006), found alarming evidence of harm from fluoride at even the 1mg/L level used in fluoridation. Bones were a concern, with increased risk of bone fracture and arthritis-like skeletal fluorosis highlighted. Other health risks in the NRC report were thyroid gland and kidney impairment, and nervous system effects.
The American Dental Association last year issued warnings for parents to avoid fluoridated water for making up infant formula. Dr Carnie states that they were referring to levels much higher than in Australian fluoridation. Why does Carnie have to spin this information? The warnings are about regular fluoridation, and advise to use zero fluoride water for infants to one year. In other words, fluoridation is not safe for everybody. Carnie and friends appear more worried to protect a set-in-concrete policy than protect our health.
Does fluoridation work? According to ``Toddler dental disgrace'' ( Sunday Age , 1/7), fluoridated Melbourne has a tooth decay crisis. Australian scientist Dr Mark Diesendorf has published a number of studies showing that non-fluoridated cities and countries have reduced tooth decay equally to fluoridated ones, from the 1960s to now. Most of Europe rejects fluoridation, and their countries have among the lowest tooth decay rates in the world on World Health Organisation rankings.
Communities must make decisions on policies affecting our bodies. Fluoridation advocates like Dr Carnie and Michael Crutchfield need to publicly debate their arguments with opponents. Let people listen, then vote. Barwon Water, councillors and parliamentary representatives should join MPs like Peter Kavanagh in demanding a referendum for Geelong. As for ensuring our water supply, a pipeline from Melbourne could easily come from a Melbourne reservoir prior to fluoride injection.
David McRae is a Geelong community health worker.

Australia - Geelong - Survey: referendum would fail Even split on fluoride

The region is evenly split on support for fluoridation, according to an Independent survey. The results mean State Government’s plans to fluoridate Barwon Water’s service area would fail usual referendum models, which require significant majorities. State Government has announced it will fluoridate the region when it connects Geelong to Melbourne’s water supply in 2011. Fluoridation opponents have called for a referendum before the Govern-ment goes ahead with the connection.
The Independent’s random phone poll on Wednesday night of 100 residents in Barwon Water’s service area found 36 respondents supported fluoridation, 36 opposed it and 28 were undecided or did not care. The poll covered Barwon Water’s service area, from Torquay to Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula. Supporters of fluoridation who wanted to comment all said it would improve dental health in the region.
Many supporters had moved to the region from fluoridated areas. “We moved here from Tasmania where there was a very bad dental record for children but once fluoride was introduced the dental health improved no end,” a Clifton Springs respondent said.
“We spent 32 years there and it was nearly impossible to get in to see a dentist but it was easy after the fluoride came in.” A respondent who had lived in Holland while the country used fluoridation also based his support on personal experience.
“There was no problem with teeth and all my kids still have no teeth problems,” the respondent said. Opponents citied perceived health risks and freedom of choice.
A Moolap respondent said he was acutely aware of the threats of fluoride from his workplace where manufacturing processes produced the chemical as a by-product.
“I work at Alcoa and we get consistently urine-tested for fluoride poisoning. It’s not good stuff at all,” he said. “The last thing everyone out there wants is fluoride in their water.” Other opponents threatened to take action against fluoridation such as cutting off water supplies or leaving the region. “If people want fluoride then they should get it themselves,” a respondent said. Respondents who were undecided or who did not care about fluoridation ranged from the elderly who no longer worried about their dental health to people who said they did not know enough about fluoride to make a decision.

USA - Fluoridated water will come to residents

Fluoridated water will come to residents
Newport Beach and Costa Mesa residents will get fluoridated drinking water — most of them for the first time — beginning in November. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will start adding fluoride to water at the Robert B. Diemer Treatment Plant, which serves Newport and Costa Mesa.
City Utilities Director Steve Myrter said some fluoride occurs naturally in groundwater, but a larger amount is required to provide fluoride’s dental health benefits. The water district’s board agreed in 2003 to add fluoride to local water supplies at the request of county health officials and dental associations, district spokesman Bob Muir said.The city of Newport Beach will inform residents about the fluoridation via a flier in upcoming water bills. For more information, call the city utilities department at (949) 644-3011 or visit the Metropolitan Water District online at www.mwdh2o.com/ fluoridation/index.html.

— Alicia Robinson

Thursday, August 30, 2007

USA - HCC Fluoride/Infant Formula Warning

HCC Fluoride/Infant Formula Warning
Thursday, 30 August 2007, 12:09 pm
Press Release: Fluoride Action Network
HCC Fluoride/Infant Formula Warning
The Policy and Strategy committee last night resolved to advise parents and caregivers of Lower Hutt of advice issued by the American Dental Association (ADA) with regards to fluoridated water.
In a November 9th 2006 email alert sent to all of its members, the ADA noted that "Infants less than one year old may be getting more than the optimal amount of fluoride if their primary source of nutrition is powdered or liquid infant formula mixed with water containing fluoride." The ADA went on to advise: "If using a product that needs to be reconstituted, parents and caregivers should consider using water that has no or low levels of fluoride."
The ADA issued this advice because babies being bottle fed with fluoridated water are at high risk for developing dental fluorosis—a defect of the teeth which can result in staining and even corrosion of the enamel. In addition, on October 14th, the Food and Drug Administration stated that fluoridated water marketed to babies cannot claim to reduce the risk of cavities.
Mary Byrne from Fluoride Action Network says that "Dental fluorosis is not the only risk stemming from a baby's exposure to fluoride. In the same week that ADA issued its advisory, an article in the British journal, The Lancet, reported that fluoride may damage a child's developing brain. The Lancet review described fluoride, along with the rocket fuel additive perchlorate, as an "emerging neurotoxic substance" due to evidence linking fluoride to lower IQs in children, and brain damage in animals".
"Newborn babies have undeveloped brains, and exposure to fluoride, a suspected neurotoxin, should be avoided," notes Hardy Limeback, a member of a 2006 National Research Council panel on fluoride toxicity, and former President of the Canadian Association of Dental Research.
"Fluoride is linked with other health problems as well, including weakened bones, reduced thyroid activity, and possibly, bone cancer in boys, according to a recent report from a team of Harvard scientists, the US National Research Council and other recent studies"
However, the committee resolution only pertains to the ADA's warning regarding dental fluorosis as this is an undisputed risk factor of water fluoridation. The resolution is now to be passed to full council on the 18th September to consider how best to convey this information to parents and caregivers.
ENDS

NYSCOF letter

By nyscof
August 29, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
93% of Georgia’s public water supplies are fluoridated. Obviously, fluoride is of no value when dentists won’t treat low-income Americans.
Dentists, whose education is government subsidized, get rich treating only people with insurance. Almost 50% of Americans don’t have dental insurance.
80% of dentists refuse to treat Medicaid patients which cost a 12-year-old Maryland boy his life - when a cavity infection traveled to his brain. Two weeks and $250,000 spent in an emergency room (at taxpayers’ expense)couldn’t save his life. But the twenty dentists that refused to treat him probably could have.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

USA - State Workers Massage Wikipedia Entries

State Workers Massage Wikipedia Entries
By Adam Wilson
The Olympian
08/28/07 10:47 AM PT
A semi-public site, Wikipedia has been news before when political enemies try to add or delete information on each other. However, this week it became a national story again through an independent site, WikiScanner. WikiScanner allows people to look up the computers behind nameless changes, for instance revealing Wal-Mart terminals used to delete information on the wages paid to its employees.
In Digital Dialogue: Technology, Capitalism, and the Pursuit of Freedom, Sonia Arrison distills the most pressing tech issues of the day into provocative essays. To purchase a copy of the book, visit Pacific Research Institute.
Turns out Washington state workers are online fact checkers, using their expertise in everything from professional wrestling to ocean acidity to tinker with the popular Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia .
Thanks to their efforts, readers across the globe may be coaxed to link the prominent Seattle law firm Preston Gates Ellis to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramhoff. They might find the date of Mount Rainier's earliest eruption.
They wouldn't read anything about a sexual harassment lawsuit against state Sen. Chris Marr because someone in the Legislative Services Center deleted that part of his entry -- but someone else added it back.
The Names Behind the Changes
A semi-public site, Wikipedia has been news before when political enemies try to add or delete information on each other. However, this week it became a national story again through an independent site, WikiScanner.
WikiScanner allows people to look up the computers behind nameless changes, for instance revealing Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) terminals used to delete information on the wages paid to its employees.
WikiScanner is the work of California graduate student Virgil Griffith.
Washington state computers in the Olympia, Wash., area have been used to make 531 changes to Wikipedia, according to The Olympian's analysis of WikiScanner's database. State workers can be fined or even fired for using government computers to do personal business. However, Susan Harris, director of the state Executive Ethics Board, said previous cases have shown some minor Web surfing is OK.
"An occasional e-mail, a quick visit to a Web site, as long as there's no commercial use," she said. "If it's related to their work, there's no problem whatsoever."
There have been no complaints filed over a Wikipedia entry, Harris added.
Using state computers to conduct outside business -- to support a political campaign or candidate or to look at pornographic sites -- results in punishment, she said.
Posting Info, Fact Checking
The largest number of changes, 70, came from Department of Ecology computers. Workers there mainly added links to data on everything from "solar azimuth angle" to state efforts in Seattle's Gas Works Park.
"With more people using public bulletin boards like this to post information -- and to check for facts -- we recognize there are valid reasons for our scientific and technical experts to use and monitor the Web as it relates to our work and mission," agency spokesperson Dave Workman said via e-mail.
He called defining the appropriate amount of Web use an "ongoing job" for most employers.
Many of the changes made by state workers appear to be within their field of expertise. State Historical Society computers were used to edit the entry on the Washington State History Museum, for example.
Controversial Changes
However, even technical changes could be controversial. A Department of Health worker apparently deleted an entry that stated high doses of fluoride can be fatal and replaced it with information on children who develop fluoride spots on their teeth.
There were blatantly political changes: Several edits of Abramoff's entry were made from Department of Information System's computers, and two changes to the page of possible candidate for governor Dino Rossi were made from the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.
Other subjects were more obscure: Capital High School, heavy metal rocker Glenn Danzig, the knuckleball pitch in baseball, trivia on the "WCW Monday Nitro" wrestling show and Star Wars movie character R2-D2, for starters.
Those changes account for only a part of the Wikipedia editing done at public computers. A search for changes made from Washington government agencies resulted in a list of more than 150 schools, counties and fire districts statewide.
Because of its newfound popularity, WikiScanner has limited the amount of returns it will provide, according to a note on the site from Griffith.
"Once the media frenzy dies down, I'll take the cap off."

Australia - State shuts its ears

State shuts its ears
SHANE FOWLES
August 29, 2007
VOCAL anti-fluoride activists have failed to halt the introduction of the chemical into water supplies of 12 towns in the past 18 months, it emerged yesterday.
Public opposition and pressure from all sides of politics has not stopped expansion of water fluoridation. But the lack of success does not daunt Warrnambool protesters, who believe they are running a different campaign. ``I fully understand that other areas have failed. But I am 100 per cent confident that... it will not end up in our water,'' Peter Hulin said yesterday. Before last year's election, the Labor Government was under fire for its pro-fluoride stance. Petitions were tabled in Parliament - Wodonga and Wangaratta alone collected more than 5400 signatures. Councils in those two towns, plus Horsham, called for new studies and a referendum.
Politicians, including Lab-or MP Dianne Hadden, slammed the state's handling of the issue and backed calls for a public vote. The lobbying had no influence and fluoride was added to a dozen towns' water during the past 18 months.
Warrnambool's situation saw the parliamentary debate reignited last week by Democratic Labor Party MP Peter Kavanagh and the Liberals' Bruce Atkinson.
``I must say that I think the debate over fluoride has well and truly been had in the community,'' Labor's Theo Theophanous said in Parliament last week. But Nationals MP Peter Hall believes the debate should be restarted. He saw Gippsland towns fluoridated last year, despite widespread opposition. ``What particularly annoys the people I represent is that they were given no say whatsoever in the decision to add fluoride to their water,'' he said at the time. ``It makes the
community consultation credentials of this Government a farce.''
Mr Hall said yesterday that calls for a balanced debate and survey had been brushed aside. But people should not be deterred.
``We have a new Premier and a new Health Minister, it is still worthwhile talking about it.'' Warrnambool's Fluoride Action Group believes it can prevent fluoridation of the city's water supply, Mr Hulin said. ``We are possibly going about it in a different way.''

Australia - Melbourne Water pays for polluting

Rachel Kleinman
August 29, 2007 - 3:36PM
Melbourne Water will be forced to pay $150,000 towards environmental projects after pleading guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court today to two charges of pollution of waters.
The water authority was punished for two environmental spills, which poured toxins into Cardinia Creek in Melbourne's south-east and Sugarloaf Creek in the Yarra Ranges. The court heard that aluminium sulphate leaked into Sugarloaf Creek from the nearby Winneke Treatment Plant several times during 2005. Water discolouration, as well as fish and eel deaths, were reported but the authority did not identify the leak's source for several months, according the Environmental Protection Authority's prosecutor. A separate incident at Cardinia Creek in 2006 resulted in large amounts of fluoride leeching into the waterway. Both incidents caused "severe environmental damage," the court heard. EPA executive director of regional services Bruce Dawson said the punishment reflected the seriousness of the offences. Melbourne Water acting managing director Eamonn Kelly said the organisation deeply regretted both incidents and the impact on the environment. The authority had since taken steps to improve asset and environmental management, Mr Kelly said.
Melbourne Water will contribute $60,000 towards a City of Whittlesea project to protect the Growling Grass Frog, an endangered species, and $90,000 towards an environmental project in Western Port Bay. No conviction was recorded and Melbourne Water was also ordered to pay $25,000 costs.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Australia - Fluoride bill leaves bad taste

Fluoride bill leaves bad taste
SIMONE PLEWS
THREE years after directing Port Macquarie- Hastings Council to fluoridate its water supply, the state government appears to be baulking at the cost of the system.
The council's water and natural resources director Geoff Freeman said the government was reviewing its funding models for a local fluoridation plant.
"There is an issue with the cost of the system because they are looking at this on a state-wide basis," he said. "We've designed a plant and submitted it to NSW Health for approval but they are concerned about the costs."
NSW Health had previously agreed to fund the scheme, which could cost close to $2 million. "It's a significant cost," Mr Freeman said. "They are reviewing our design and our proposal and have got technical experts looking at it as well as coming up with the appropriate funding model."
The council submitted its fluoridation plant design and proposal to the government almost 12 months ago. A North Coast Area Health Service spokesman said fluoridation of the local water supply was central to a broad strategy aimed at improving oral health in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region.
"To date the cost estimates for the proposed infrastructure may have exceeded the industry standard for a population of this size," he said. "Consequently, the NSW Centre for Oral Health Strategy has engaged an independent consultant to expedite the arrangement."
The fluoride debate has been a controversial one in the Hastings for many years, with the council referring the issue to an expert panel in 2004. In August that year the Director General of Health, Robyn Kruk, directed the council to fluoridate its water supply.
"It's been a long issue and from our point of view it's an important issue to get right," Mr Freeman said. "Council was prepared to accept the long-term operating costs of the facility, so in that context we were keen to get an efficient plant."
The health service spokesman said more than 90 per cent of the state's population received fluoridated water. "As a result, NSW Health has approved local fluoridation and has been working with council to develop a design for a suitablyequipped plant," he said.
"For the community's benefit, it is important that fluoridation be implemented as soon as possible. Health authorities, in conjunction with other NSW Government departments, will continue to work with council to achieve this goal."
Port Macquarie-Hastings councillor Lisa Intemann, a fluoridation opponent, is among 600 signatories on a petition urging America's Congress to stop fluoridation until Congressional hearings are conducted.
They cite new scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and has serious health risks. Cr Intemann said she was invited to sign the petition, which boasts 2000 Nobel Prize for Medicine winner Dr Arvid Carlsson, as a signatory.
It also is signed by three members of the prestigious 2006 National Research Council (NRC) panel that reported on fluoride's toxicology, the president of the International Society of Doctors for the Environment, and hundreds of medical, dental, academic, scientific and

Australia - Trust me

Yes to fluoride plan
KATE BUTLERAugust 28, 2007
Doug Travis: Fluoride OK. Picture: JEMMA WALLACE
WARRNAMBOOL'S water should be fluoridated, GPs and gynaecologists should both deliver babies and the Portland hospital was getting back on track, Victoria's new AMA president said yesterday.
Australian Medical Association Victorian president Doug Travis yesterday offered his views on the big health issues confronting south-west residents during a tour of the region.
He threw his weight behind fluoride being added to the city's water supplies despite vocal opposition from about 800 residents who attended a public meeting last week.
On his two-day tour of the south-west, Dr Travis grasped the localhealth issues, including the decision to fluoridate Warrnambool's water.
``It's (fluoridation) been going on for decades in other regions,'' he said.
``The dental hygiene risks are minimal.
``People just have a lot of fear.''

Monday, August 27, 2007

USA - Dental problems in young kids on the rise

Dental problems in young kids on the rise
By Steve Rock
MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS KANSAS CITY, Mo. --All too often, pediatric dentist Paul Kittle peers into the mouths of his youngest patients and cringes at what he sees:
Teeth rotted off at the gum line. Abscesses. Draining pus.
And lots of cavities.
"Sometimes," he said, "I look in there and I go, 'Oh, my goodness.'"
Dentists nationwide are saying the same thing.
According to a comprehensive study of the nation's dental health released this year by the National Center for Health Statistics, our children's teeth are rotting.
"Absolutely," Kittle said. "All of us in the field feel there's been a definite increase in cavities and other problems."
The statistics back that up, at least for children ages 2 to 5. According to the report, based on data compiled from 1999 to 2004, nearly 28 percent of children in that age range had at least one cavity in their primary, or baby, teeth. That represented an increase from the 1988-94 data, in which slightly more than 24 percent had cavities.
Before the most recent report, there had been no real change in the prevalence of tooth decay in baby teeth among children in that age group in 20-plus years.
"We were surprised," said the study's lead author, Bruce Dye of the National Center for Health Statistics, an arm of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "This is really the first documented increase in a long, long time.
"Four percentage points represents tens of thousands of children in the United States."
Granted, not all the news was bad. The report shows, for example, that tooth decay in the permanent teeth of children ages 6 to 11 dropped from 25 percent to 21 percent. And in youths ages 12 to 19, it dropped from 68 percent to 59 percent.
But in that younger set, the trend is clear. There are many theories, though no concrete answers as to why. Start with too much sugar.
"In our busy lifestyles, we're driving around all the time," said pediatric dentist Jill Jenkins. "Kids are carrying a cup of juice and fruit snacks everywhere we go. ... If a kid is taking a drink every five minutes all day long, that tooth is basically bathing in acid."
Kittle said, "Probably my No. 1 enemy in the world is apple juice."
Kids also are drinking less tap water, relying instead on the bottled water or juice boxes that are tucked in the refrigerator door. That means they're getting less fluoride, an element added to water that helps prevent tooth decay.
Dye thinks dietary habits play a significant role, too, in our ever-more-transient society.
"Parents have less time to prepare meals for their children," he said. "As a society, we've gravitated toward convenience. We're eating more pre-prepared meals, pre-prepared snacks."
And brushing our children's teeth less, perhaps.
As the hustle and bustle of another busy day winds down, experts suspect, parents too often let their kids skip brushing their teeth before trundling off to bed. Or they let them do it alone, even though the youngsters might not know the best way to do it.
"This is an early warning that the way we are transferring eating habits and oral hygiene care to our children is not working," Dye said. "Parents need to be more actively involved with their children -- guiding them, helping them make healthy eating choices, helping them brush their teeth."
Kim Smith of Wellsville, Kan., does just that and recently took her four sons to pediatric dentist David Cobb.
"You only get the set of teeth you're given," Smith said. "It's important to take care of them."
The consequences of failing to do so can be serious, Dye and others said.
While it's true that those baby teeth eventually will come out, it's unhealthy for them to be littered with cavities. Untreated decay can spread, creating a domino effect that no 4-year-old should have to endure.
"It's going to turn into an abscess," Jenkins said. "It's going to turn into an infection. And it's going to turn into pain."
Fighting cavitiesExperts say parents can help their infants and young children avoid cavities and tooth decay by:
• Not putting anything in their bedtime bottles or sippy cups except water.
• Brushing their gums with a soft cloth or baby toothbrush even before the first tooth appears.
• Taking them to a dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than their first birthday.
• Using fluoridated toothpaste at age 2 or 3.
• Keeping them on a balanced diet and not letting them "graze" on snacks and sugary drinks throughout the day.
• Keeping regular checkups with their dentist.

NYSCOF: Kansas City, MO, is fluoridated:

Sunday, August 26, 2007

USA - Good letter

Dentists have been very derelict in their duty to educate Americans about the real reason why they are getting more cavities. Poor nutrition and too much fluoride.
Sufficient intakes of protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamins A, C, and D are required to form healthy teeth, according to the American Dental Association.
Most cavities happen in poor children. Poor children are deficient in almost all of the above nutrients, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Low Income Americans are also less likely to be able to afford nutrient dense fruits and vegetables to satisfy the 7-9 servings required daily to keep healthy.
There are zero, nada, zip, NO studies showing any American child is fluoride deficient. In fact, the opposite is true. Loads of studies show American Children get way over recommended levels of fluoride from many sources - not just drinking water. And there is NO dispute between those for and against fluoridation that too much fluoride is harmful and can actually damage teeth (dental fluorosis).
In fact, the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control, recognizing this problem, both advise that infant formulas should not be mixed with fluoridated water to avoid dental fluorosis which now occurs in about 50% of U.S. schoolchildren, according to the CDC.
Fluoride is inhaled via ocean mist, cold mist humidifiers, showers, and air pollution. It's a component of cigarette smoke, coal burning, brick, fertilizer, aluminum and other industrial air emissions. Fluoride is naturally high in tea and ocean fish and, because of fluoride containing pesticide residues, in some grape juices. Fluoride is in chicken baby food in concentrations high enough to cause dental fluorosis in the child if consumed daily. Any product made with mechanically deboned chicken such as chicken nuggets, vienna sausages and baby food contains bone dust. Bones contain fluoride.
Since the EPA now allows sulfuryl fluoride to be used as a fumigant on many foods, even more foods will contain fluoride.
Unfortunately, most dentists faced with a child with severe decay almost always prescribes more fluoride without any thought to total fluoride intake and the damage it can do to the child's body and teeth.
####www.fluoridedangers.blogspot.com

USA Cavities in Children on the Rise

Dentists and dental hygienists at the Dentistry for Children and Adolescents are getting used to having a full house these days. Pediatric dentist Dr. Jay McCaslin says the number of children with cavities is growing. "We see kids that come in and we catch some early cavities," he explained. "Then we get children that come in that have mouths full of cavities. Anywhere from 10 to 20 cavities in their mouth. We have one and a half year olds that have multiple cavities at that age."
Grandmother Marcia Rewis is glad her two grandsons Maurice and Terrell, take care of their teeth everyday. "They brush while they're in the shower, whenever they can. And no sweets. Very seldom do they get sweets," she said.
But it may not only be sweets they need to watch out for. Dr. McCaslin says a lot of foods we eat and drink can cause cavities, including items we normally wouldn't think of, like breads and bottled waters. "There is no fluoride in most bottled water. If you're drinking bottled water all the time and everything else you drink is juice or soda, then you're not getting the benefit of fluoride," he told us.
Fluoride strengthens teeth that could be weakened by things like sugar. "Even the white bread our children love so much is loaded with sugar," Dr. McCaslin said.
But Dr. McCaslin also cautioned that food and beverages aren't the only culprits to cavities. Bad oral hygiene from birth can cause a lot of aggravations later. "If children do not take care of their teeth, they can get to the point where teeth abscess and have to be removed or crowned."
Something parents and grandparents like Marcia don't want to happen. She's planning to limit her grandsons soft drinks and make a regular appointment to see the dentist. "They'll be back in February," said Marcia.
Dr. McCaslin also suggests that parents start brushing their children's teeth as soon as they come into their mouth. He recommends children drink lots of water in between meals. Some stores even sell bottled water with fluoride in it.
He also warns that parents make sure they know what types of food their child is eating. Read ingredients and call their school and ask about their menu. And of course, he suggests that parents bring kids in for regular check ups.
Reported by: Melanie A. Ruberti, mruberti@wtoc.com

NYSCOF: Savannah, Georgia is fluoridated

Saturday, August 25, 2007

First it was China now India is sending out dodgy toothpaste.

Toothpaste :: Neem Active Toothpaste with Calcium found to pose additional health risksFurther to the Health Canada warning issued July_26, 2007, further testing on Neem Active Toothpaste with Calcium, manufactured by Calcutta Chemical Co. Ltd in India, has revealed that in addition to unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), the product also contains high levels of harmful bacteria. This poses additional significant health risks, especially to children and individuals with compromised immune systems.Health Canada continues to advise Canadians to discontinue use of this product. Potential adverse effects of ingesting products that contain unacceptable levels of harmful bacteria include fever, urinary tract infection, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Infants, children and vulnerable populations such as patients hospitalized for severe underlying diseases or with compromised immune systems are more sensitive to these effects. Severe vomiting and diarrhea could lead to potentially life-threatening dehydration. While toothpaste is not intended to be swallowed, it is often swallowed by young children.Neem Active Toothpaste is not approved for sale in Canada. Fluoride-containing toothpastes that have been approved for sale in Canada will contain either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) or a Natural Product Number (NPN).

Friday, August 24, 2007

Canada - Good letter

Fluoride recommendation worthy of public support
Editorial - Thursday, August 23, 2007 @ 09:00
As a former Niagara resident who attended the public information meeting on July 23, I am in complete support of the Niagara Region Works Committee recommendation to end fluoridation for good. They are basing their decision on common sense, science and logic as well as finances. Industrial waste fluoride is as harmful to human health as it is to water pumps, pipes and fittings.
Industrial waste fluoride does not help teeth whether it is swallowed in tap water, or breathed in air from the stacks of Nanticoke or Hamilton steel industries. Dr. Mancuso cites pitiful examples of Baby Bottle Decay in toddlers as proof of fluoride deficiency. Yet fruit juice, baby formula, canned baby foods, teething biscuits and cereal contain loads of fluoride - much more than fluoridated tap water. Baby tooth enamel is formed inside the jaws of the unborn baby based on the availability of essential nutrients in the mother's diet - not fluoride. Breast milk contains at least 100 times less fluoride than formula, yet breastfed babies have better bones and teeth the longer they are nursed. As a registered nutritionist, I can tell you that processed baby foods are high in decay-producing sugar but deficient in the nutrients that are essential for healthy teeth: iodine, selenium, magnesium, vitamins B, C, D and K, and essential fatty acids. These are also nutrients that protect against cancer and heart disease. They are found in fresh, whole foods, not industrial waste. Aliss Terpstra Toronto

Letter in Southampton's Echo from Anthony

Thursday, August 23, 2007


The Killing of California Almonds (comic)

Sent by Edward Priestley.

There are literally 100's of products which can cause and make thyroid conditions worse so people should avoid them if possible if they have a thyroid problem, particularly low thyroid function, hypothyroidism, which is very common (1 in 5 women in France and 1 in 9 men) and is in the vast majority of cases. Laboratory blood tests, TSH, T4 & T4 are often altered by prescribed drugs, exposurer to toxic chemicals etc and can therefore be misleading. Although there are medical papers written about all these problems the medical profession generally ignores this and continues to often wrongly diagnose many patients by following the laboratory tests only. We have a letter from the UK D.o.H 1986 saying that a medical history and symptoms should be taken into account when diagnosing and not just laboratory blood tests but few doctors follow this advice on "good medical practice".
Some common causes of thyroid problems:
Radiation
Dozens of prescribed medical drugs.
Exposurer to pesticides.
Consumption of large amounts of tea.
Smoking
Soft drinks like Coca Cola
Some brands of bottled water with over one part per million fluoride content.

There are many other products which can affect thyroid function but the above are the most common causes.
The common denominator of many of these products are halogen chemicals, chlorine, fluorine and its compounds (fluoride etc) and bromine in many prescribed medical drugs, pesticides, toothpaste, tapwater.
The fluorines (fluoride) are the most toxic of these chemicals.
Edward in France

Formal Complaint Charges CDC Oral Health Division with Ethics Violations

August 13, 2007 ­ A joint meeting of two ethics committees for the Centers for Disease Control has received a detailed formal complaint alleging a series of unethical activities by the CDC Oral Health Division and the CDC Director. The complaint points to a quote by a highly placed CDC official that the public health ethics code CDC espouses is not being internally applied within CDC itself. The complaint specifically questions why CDC's own data on disproportionate harm from ingested fluoride in minority groups is not being communicated to these communities, and points to new, state of the art National Research Council information showing certain groups to be especially susceptible to harm from fluoride.

The charges were presented to CDC's joint ethics panel on August 9th by Daniel Stockin, a public health professional of The Lillie Center, Inc., a private sector firm. In a separate development, news surfaced on the same day that 600 doctors, dentists, and other professionals have signed a petition calling for a halt to water fluoridation and for congressional hearings on fluoridation (see: www.FluorideAction.net).

According to the complaint, the unethical actions of Oral Health Division manager William Maas and CDC Director Julie Gerberding are "serious and egregious" in not disseminating findings of the National Research Council that kidney patients, diabetics, infants, and seniors are especially susceptible to harm from fluoride. The complaint contains photos of a condition called dental fluorosis, a staining and pitting of teeth indicative of overexposure to fluoride that is disproportionately present in African Americans and perhaps Mexican Americans, compared to Caucasians.

"This is an explosive and deeply disturbing issue," states Stockin. "We have provided very specific examples of statements and actions by Dr.'s Maas and Gerberding that show blatant disregard for the most fundamental principles of ethics in public health. CDC is striving mightily to defend its policy supporting water fluoridation to prevent cavities, but the facts about harm from fluoride are now coming from highly respected organizations like the National Research Council."

"People with kidney disease or on dialysis should see this complaint and the report by the National Research Council on fluoride," Stockin says, "And if you happen to be a member of the population with diabetes or HIV, you will be amazed how the NRC report contains important information you should know about -- but that CDC has elected not to openly share with the public because it runs at odds with putting fluoride in drinking water."

The ethics complaint and the 600 professionals' statement are the latest in a string of blows to the conventional wisdom that fluoride and water fluoridation are safe. In 2005, frustrated by EPA administrators' lack of response to mounting evidence of harm from fluoride, eleven unions within EPA representing 7,000 lab workers, scientists, and others publicly called for the immediate halt to fluoridation based on concerns about fluoride-caused bone cancer. In 2006, the American Dental Association quietly stated on its web site that mothers of newborns might wish to consider using unfluoridated water when mixing powdered infant milk formula. CDC this year similarly changed its policy about use of fluoridated water for mixing formula, but did so only on its web site, not issuing even a press release to alert millions of parents to the news. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has recently developed software to begin to assess the quantity of fluoride Americans are ingesting, citing concern that cumulative fluoride intake could lead to a painful bone and joint condition called "skeletal fluorosis."

The new, detailed list of alleged unethical actions by CDC in protecting its long-held policy is likely to spur groups and legislators across the country to join in the call for an official ethics inquiry into CDC's actions.

Were CDC officials willing to sacrifice the health of Americans in order to prevent embarrassment to the agency and themselves? Stockin points to supporting materials in the ethics complaint that offer little wiggle room for discomfited CDC officials. "At-risk groups have a moral right to be told the whole story about fluoride," Stockin says. "Get ready for their lawsuits. The world is not flat, and fluoride is not safe," he says.
The full text of the ethics complaint with its attachments can be accessed at: http://www.fluoridealert.org/cdc.ethics.complaint.aug.13.... .
Daniel Stockin of The Lillie Center may be contacted at (706)-669-0786
Press Release
Formal Complaint Charges CDC Oral Health Division with Ethics Violations
Fluoride Alert, Aug 13, 2007
Straight to the Source
From: http://www.fluoridealert.org

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

USA - Video

Video Fox 6 news on fluoride debate

USA - Critics Try to Postpone SoCal Water Fluoridation

An environmental group wants Southern California's biggest water district to wait before fluoridating the tap water. The Metropolitan Water District says fluoride is safe and prevents cavities. But a new report disputes that. KPBS reporter Andrew Phelps has the story.
The Environmental Working Group doesn't take issue with fluoride itself. But the nonprofit worries the district wants to put too much of it in the water. Bill Walker says that can cause serious health problems, especially in young children.
Walker: Almost 15 percent of children under age 1, and almost 13 percent of children under age 2, are going to be receiving a dose of fluoride every day that exceeds what the EPA and other government agencies say is safe.
Other agencies include the National Academy of Sciences and the American Dental Association.
Walker says 12,000 young San Diego children could be at risk for diseases such as fluorosis, which causes tooth decay.
The Metropolitan Water District plans to start fluoridating in October.
Andrew Phelps, KPBS News.

Australia - Why the empty chairs filled a room with vitriol

Why the empty chairs filled a room with vitriol
August 22, 2007
Absent, but far from forgotten: seats were laid out for fluoride advocates who didn't attend the public meeting on Monday night.
Picture: ANGELA MILNE.
AS far as symbolism goes, it was powerful.
An empty row of seats sat at the front of the stage, bearing the names of local and State Government figures and fluoride advocates who didn't attend the public meeting.
The absentees squarely in the firing line were Warrnambool's seven councillors who have backed the move to fluoridate the city's water supply.
Mayor David Atkinson had declined because his position was publicly known and it clashed with the council's regular Monday planning meeting.
But as the night progressed, the vitriol directed at those specific seats only grew louder. And it was former mayor, the ever-popular Frank McCarthy, who raised the 800-strong crowd to rapture when he declared his disdain for the council. ``I think they have let us down. It is disheartening and sad really,'' he told The Standard yesterday. ``It is sad that the Government and all these intelligentsia don't want to listen to the people... when they want to erode our freedom of choice.'' Mr McCarthy was one of several ex-councillors who turned out for the city's biggest-ever public meeting on Monday. John Kenneally, Charlie Brown, Les Hawkins and 91-year-old Jim Leahy were on hand to hear residents' concerns. Given the lack of current councillors to hear the public's anger, it was the old guard that was delivered the message. ``There was a real strong groundswell last night to introduce a vote of no confidence in the council,'' Mr Kenneally said yesterday. ``And a lot of people want to know how to go about it.'' Mr Kenneally is critical of the council's handling of the hot issue, describing it as pathetic, lacking backbone and arrogant.
``I think it is an insult to former councillors, who helped build the reputation of this city, that they have taken this soft approach,'' he said.
Mr McCarthy said he wasn't in the business of pouring scorn on the council but felt it had failed its primary task to represent voters.
``This is what we are paying them for - to be the people's representative,'' he said.
Dr Natalie Ryan, an anti-fluoride voice, delivered a similar sentiment. ``If the council won't represent us, then we have just got to represent ourselves,'' she said. Whether the depth of the ill-feelings carries into next year's council elections remains to be seen. But with Fluoride Action Group founder Peter Hulin intending to stand, his chances of gaining a chamber seat have risen.

ADA Distributing Misleading Information on Two Federal Fluoride Reports, Says Fluoride Action Network

Tue Aug 21, 9:05 AM ETTo: MEDICAL EDITORS
Contact: Paul Connett, PhD, of Fluoride Action Network, +1-315-379-9200, paul@fluoridealert.org
NEW YORK, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Fluoride Action Network (FAN) charges the American Dental Association (ADA) with circulating false and misleading information in its newsletter (8/15) that expressed concern over professional "opposition to community water fluoridation."(1)
ADA misrepresented important findings in the 2006 National Research Council (NRC)(2) report and trivialized the significance of the dental fluorosis epidemic afflicting American children (CDC, 2005).
"We don't understand why the ADA won't deal honestly with the science that caused 600 professionals to urge fluoridation be ended,"(3) says Paul Connett, PhD, FAN Director.
The ADA says the NRC report is not relevant to water fluoridation, but, according to its website, made this statement before it had reviewed the report. In March, 2006 it wrote: "Additional information will appear on ADA.org after the report has been reviewed"(4) but no further information has appeared.
Connett says, "The ADA assessment is totally superficial, in contrast to statements from three NRC panel members who wrote important chapters in the report."
Kathleen Thiessen, PhD says, "I have become increasingly convinced that deliberate exposure of a large fraction of the U.S. population ... to uncontrolled and unmonitored intake of fluoride in their drinking water is unwise at best, and probably harmful to a substantial number of people."(5)
Hardy Limeback, PhD, DDS, writes, " ... it is obvious that the benefit of fluoridation is next to nil. ... I am even more convinced that fluoride should be banned as a systemic drug (which includes water fluoridation) ..."(6)
Robert L. Isaacson, PhD adds, "The health of the entire country is at risk as long as fluoridation of the drinking water remains uncurbed."(6)
The ADA claims that dental fluorosis, which now impacts 32% of American children, is "so slight that only trained professionals can notice it." However, very mild fluorosis affects up to 25% of tooth surfaces and mild up to 50%(7). The CDC reports that 4% of children have moderate or severe fluorosis(8), in which all tooth surfaces are affected, frequently with brown staining and sometimes pitting.
"These categories are easy to identify and can result in psychological harm," says Connett. "We urge citizens to sign the ONLINE MESSAGE calling for an end to fluoridation and Congressional hearings at: http://www.FluorideAction.net."

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Australia - Teenage years spent in misery

Teenage years spent in misery
MADELINE HEALEY
August 21, 2007
Allansford's Anne Boyle suffered fluoride poisoning as a teenager.
Picture: ANGELA MILNE
YEARS of aching bones, bad teeth and peeling skin were just some of the symptoms Allansford's Anne Boyle suffered as a result of fluoride poisoning as a teenager.
Last night Mrs Boyle stood before a huge crowd at the Emmanuel College hall and told the story of her problems with fluoride, suffered when she lived in Canberra.
``My bones ached inside and out and my teeth were in a disgusting state,'' Mrs Boyle said. ``I was very shy, had no self-esteem and didn't smile very much.'' Now in her 50s, Mrs Boyle said she used tank water at home, but if she visited Melbourne her skin still reacted to the fluoride in the city's water supply. She said she worried about what future health problems she could suffer as a result of the poisoning. Mrs Boyle said it made her angry that the State Government planned to introduce fluoride to Warrnambool's water supply. ``I hate to think that there are children out there who have to go through what I went through,'' she said. Her father Keith McDowall said that at the time doctors could not work out what was wrong with his daughter.
The retired chiropractor asked she be tested for fluoride poisoning and the reports came back that she had 40 times the recommended amount of fluoride in her body.
``I'm so glad you all turned up tonight because fluoride, we don't want,'' Mr McDowall told last night's public meeting.

Australia - PEOPLE POWER


PEOPLE POWER
MADELINE HEALEY
August 21, 2007
Emmanuel College's hall was packed for a meeting opposing fluoride being added to the city's water supply.
Picture: ANGELA MILNE
ONE of the biggest public meetings in Warrnambool's history resolved to fight the introduction of fluoride to the city's water supply.
Confirming that the issue has become one of the city's most contentious, last night's meeting attracted an estimated 700 to 1000 people to the Emmanuel College hall, with many others apparently turning away when the car park filled.
Despite the crowd 28 chairs set aside at the front of the room bearing the names of politicians and Warrnambool City councillors remained empty.
The organisers said some of the politicians were in Melbourne for Parliament, while the councillors were at another meeting.
Several key speakers addressed the crowd before a long question-and-answer session, after which the meeting unanimously voted on all eight resolutions put forward. The first resolution was to approach the Federal Government to intervene and conduct a referendum to decide whether the city's water should be fluoridated. A spokeswoman for Wannon MP David Hawker said it was not the Federal Government's place to intervene because fluoridation was a State Government issue. If the Federal Government does not help the Warrnambool Fluoride Action Group plans to seek funding to hold an independent referendum.
Vern Robson, who chaired last night's meeting, said the overwhelming response meant the State and Federal Governments now had no choice but to take notice of the anti-fluoride argument. ``I have no doubt it will eventually be obsolete.'' Dr Natalie Ryan ``It's the biggest public meeting we've probably had since the Warrnambool to Melbourne rail issue came up,'' Mr Robson said. There were gasps from the crowd when former Australian Dental Association president Dr Andrew Harms said that fluoride contained arsenic, with about 0.4 to 1.6 parts per billion of arsenic in fluoridated water. Speaker David McRae said there was evidence fluoride did little for tooth decay. Mr McRae said Shepparton had fluoride, but the level of tooth decay was worse than in Warrnambool. Warrnambool doctor Natalie Ryan said fluoride could cause several health problems including malignant tumours, iodine deficiencies, early puberty, brittle bones and goiter.
Dr Ryan received loud applause when she said that she would not swallow fluoridated water.
``I have no doubt it will eventually be obsolete,'' she told the meeting. ``We should lead the way. ``We don't want to be the victims of outdated political policies.''

Monday, August 20, 2007

USA - The Left is Brain-dead

.....................If you’re of a certain age, you may recall that years ago, during the Cold War, there was a major controversy revolving around the introduction of fluoride into America’s water supply. Those in favor claimed it would strengthen our teeth and help us ward off cavities. Those on the other side insisted it was all a Commie plot. I can’t recall exactly what it was the anti-fluoride crowd worried about. But if they suspected that, while toughening up our teeth, it would simultaneously weaken our national resolve and turn us into a bunch of weak-kneed, chicken-hearted, liberals, who insist we run from any fight we can’t win in five minutes, they just may have been right.

Might have a point America has changed for the worse but so have we without the fluoride apart from the 10% of the country and I take it they are no worse than us.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Drug reps use psychological tactics to successfully influence doctors' prescribing habits

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Rainwater runoff managed with beauty and style

Rain Barrel
Add a rain barrel to catch the water that runs from the roof. Installed below the downspout, a rain barrel becomes a reservoir for you to water gardens and flowerpots. Rainwater is great for gardens, as it doesn’t contain the chlorine and fluoride that are added to our drinking water. Plants thrive when they’re watered with rainwater. Rain barrels come with a screen over the top to keep mosquitoes, other bugs and debris out, as well as a hose attachment at the bottom to draw water from the barrel. Rain barrels come in an assortment of finishes, from antiqued wood barrels to plastic, metal or ceramic basins with a modern flair.

Must apply to us.

USA - Brevard dentists blame increase in decay on unfluoridated drink

..........................Dr. F. Joseph Dermody Jr., a pediatric dentist in Vero Beach, said he tries to keep children in his practice on "fluoride at least until the last tooth comes in" about age 12 or 13, advocating they drink at least 12 to 16 ounces of fluoridated water daily.
From age 2 to the early teen years, he said, "fluoride has to be swallowed, so it gets into the matrix of each tooth," to strengthen it.
But, once past this age, topical fluoride, such as toothpaste and mouth rinse, "generally provides adequate protection against decay."
As to bottled water's role in this process, he said, he agrees with the pediatric dental group that other factors may play a role, particularly given so many children's high consumption of sugary food and drinks.
"We never had flavored sports waters growing up," Dermody said. "The flavoring they add is all sugar."
Jane Lazgin, a spokeswoman for Connecticut-based Nestle Waters, North America, the largest bottled water company in the United States, also cited the "500 calories children get each day from liquid beverages, many of them from juice or milk, perhaps," she said, "but others from sugary drinks."
She said Nestle came out with an 8-ounce "school-lunch-sized" fluoridated water last year that meets the government's regulatory standards at 0.9 parts per million -- one of several manufacturers to do so -- with a childproof twist cap.
But the company also offers the same product without fluoride, because of the continuing "controversy over whether fluoride is beneficial or not," she said. "We leave that up to parents to decide."

Long article

They don't!

Faculty and student perceptions of academic integrity at u.s. And canadian dental schools [In Process Citation]
J Dent Educ 2007 Aug;71(8):1027-39 (ISSN: 0022-0337)
Andrews KG; Smith LA; Henzi D; Demps E
San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78299-3900; 210-567-2700;
The issues of cheating and plagiarism in educational settings have received a large amount of attention in recent years. The purpose of this study was to assess the degree to which academic integrity issues currently exist in the dental schools throughout the United States and Canada. An online survey was developed to gather data pertaining to this topic from two key groups in dental education: faculty and students. Responses were obtained from 1,153 students and 423 faculty members. The results of the survey clearly reveal that cheating is a significant problem in dental schools and that significant differences exist between students' and faculty members' perceptions of academic integrity. The challenge for dental schools is to identify effective strategies to prevent cheating opportunities and to implement and enforce effective means of dealing with specific examples of cheating.

Friday, August 17, 2007

Conspiracy to Destroy America.

.................Our water is polluted from various sources, and ground water is depleted through irrigation. They add chlorine and fluoride to drinking water, two known poisons, and we accept it. There are alternatives, far safer and healthier to chlorine. Fluoride is extremely toxic. It is a by-product of aluminum manufacturing. It must be handled as hazardous material and disposed of at great costs to business. What better way to eliminate it than by adding it to the population’s water supplies saying it is good for teeth. This is a huge lie. This is like saying radiation would be good for human health because it kills bad bacteria. (Google "fluoride poisoning").......................................

Three page conspiracy theory - none of it true we hope.

Study: Chocolate Better than Flouride for Healthy Teeth?

For a healthy smile brush between meals, floss regularly and eat plenty of chocolate?
New research suggests an extract of cocoa powder that occurs naturally in chocolates, teas, and other products might be an effective natural alternative to fluoride in toothpaste, according to Tulane University doctoral candidate Arman Sadeghpour.
Sadeghpour said his research revealed that the cocoa extract was even more effective than fluoride in fighting cavities, according to a news release from the university.
The extract, a white crystalline powder whose chemical makeup is similar to caffeine, helps harden teeth enamel, making users less susceptible to tooth decay, the study suggested.
The extract has been proven effective in the animal model, but it will probably be another two to four years before the product is approved for human use and available for sale, Sadeghpour said.
But he has already created a prototype of peppermint flavored toothpaste with the cavity-fighting cocoa extract added, and his doctoral thesis research compared the extract side by side to fluoride on the enamel surface of human teeth.
Sadeghpour's research group included scientists from Tulane, the University of New Orleans, and Louisiana State University's School of Dentistry.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Fluoride Journal

HEALTH/BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS IN HUMANS
FLUORIDE IN DRINKING WATER: A REVIEW ON THE STATUS AND STESS EFFECTS
According to latest estimates, around 200 million people residing in 25 nations are exposed to toxic levels of fluoride in their drinking water. China and India, the two most populous countries in the world, are the worst affected. India in particular has numerous water quality problems caused by prolific fluoride contamination of geological origin. Weathering of primary rocks and leaching of fluoride minerals in soils produce fluoride-rich groundwater generally associated with low levels of calcium and bicarbonate ions. Unfettered tapping of
groundwater exacerbates the failure of drinking water sources and accelerates the entry of fluoride into groundwater. Despite claims of anticaries benefits, average fluoride concentrations as low as 0.5 and 0.7 ppm have been found in India to cause dental and skeletal fluorosis, respectively, with crippling effects often seen at higher concentrations. Nearly 37,000 habitations in India are known to be affected, and the numbers continue to increase. A close association between poverty and fluorosis occurs with malnutrition playing an aggressive
role in its severity. The review cites 311 references and has 13 tables and five maps, including the occurrence of endemic fluorosis globally, in India, and in several other countries.
Authors: Ayoob S, Gupta AK.
Correspondence: AK Gupta, Environmental Engineering Division, Department of Civil
Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Karagpur, India. E-mail: akgupta@iitkgp.ac.in
Keywords: Crippling skeletal fluorosis; Dental caries; Dental fluorosis; Drinking water fluoride;
Endemic fluorosis; Fluoride water; Fluorosis worldwide; Skeletal fluorosis.
Source: Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 2006;36:433-87.
DOSE-EFFECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRINKING WATER FLUORIDE LEVELS AND DAMAGE TO
LIVER AND KIDNEY FUNCTIONS IN CHILDREN
Although a dose-effect relationship between water fluoride levels and damage to liver and kidney functions has been reported in animals, it apparently has not been clearly demonstrated in humans. To evaluate the effects of drinking water fluoride levels on the liver and kidney functions in children with and without dental fluorosis, we identified 210 children who were divided into seven groups with 30 each based on different drinking water fluoride levels in the same residential area. We found that the fluoride levels in serum and urine of these children increased as the levels of drinking water fluoride increased. There were no significant differences in the levels of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), aspartate transamine (AST), and alanine transamine (ALT) in serum among these groups. However, the activities of serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), urine N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG), and urine gammaglutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT) in children with dental fluorosis and having water fluoride of 2.15–2.96 mg/L and in children having water fluoride of 3.15–5.69 mg/L, regardless of dental fluorosis, were significantly higher than in children exposed to water
fluoride of 0.61–0.87 mg/L in a dose-response manner. In contrast to children with dental fluorosis and having water fluoride of 2.15–2.96 and 3.10–5.69 mg/L, the serum LDH activity of children without dental fluorosis but exposed to the same levels of water fluoride as those with dental fluorosis was also markedly lower, but the activities of NAG and gamma-GT in their urine were not. Therefore, our results suggest that drinking water fluoride levels above 2.0 mg/L can cause damage to liver and kidney functions in children and that dental fluorosis was independent of damage to the liver but not the kidney. Further studies on the mechanisms
and significance underlying damage to the liver without dental fluorosis in the exposed children are warranted.
Authors: Xiong X, Liu J, He W, Xia T, He P, Chen X, Yang K, Wang A.
Correspondence: Department of Respiratory Disease, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College,
Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 Hubei, People's Republic of
China.
Keywords: Children; Dental fluorosis; Drinking water; Fluoride; Kidney function; Liver function;
Serum enzymes; Urine enzymes.
Source: Environ Res 2007 Jan;103(1):112-6.
Copyright © 2007 International Society for Fluoride Research.
www.fluorideresearch.org www.fluorideresearch.com www.fluorideresearch.net
Editorial Office: 727 Brighton Road, Ocean View, Dunedin 9035, New Zealand.

Alaska - Too much fluoride out there already

My Turn: Too much fluoride out there already
Fluoridated water isn't the answer to dental caries
DR. EMILY KANE
When I joined the mayoral commission to study the issue of municipal water fluoridation in 2004, I was fairly certain adding fluoride to city water was not the best approach to dental health. I also had some concerns about the ethics and safety of adding a medicine and waste product to the water system, which virtually forces everyone to consume, bathe in and breathe it. After three years of study, my stance has evolved to a deeper and more urgent level of concern.

For those who believe they, or their children, need fluoride - it's everywhere! Almost all canned foods have high levels of fluoride. Virtually all toothpastes contain fluoride. Your dentist can apply fluoride to your teeth. Public health will give out sodium fluoride tablets and drops for free. Grapes, corn, chicken, fish, tea are all high in fluoride. Fluoride is not a necessary element for human life. In fact, in relatively small doses, it is toxic. Remember, fluoride accumulates. About 50 percent of all the fluoride you have ever ingested is still in your body and will remain there, in the bones, in the kidneys, in the brain and, yes, on your teeth. This is likely the way fluoride confers long-term damage to susceptible individuals.

Fluoridation advocates cite "60 years of public health research" to support the idea. About 60 years ago it was noted that areas of the country (Colorado and Texas) where aquifer-derived water was naturally high in fluoride, kids had more dental fluorosis (permanent dental staining) and, arguably, fewer cavities. This naturally occurring fluoride is calcium fluoride, which is almost insoluble, meaning it doesn't bind well to internal tissues, such as bones and kidneys.

The soluble chemical, sodium fluoride, which is what is typically added to city water, is considered more toxic than lead and almost as toxic as arsenic, in comparable amounts. Sodium fluoride is 20 times more toxic than the naturally occurring calcium fluoride. The lethal dose for calcium fluoride in humans is 5,000 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. The lethal dose of sodium fluoride in humans is 250 mg per kg of body weight.

No studies on the toxicology of sodium fluoride in humans were undertaken at the beginning of the fluoridation experiment in 1945, nor have any such studies been conducted since.

Can you imagine our government in 2007 mandating the addition of another biologically active substance to everyone's water supply - with no safety data, only marginal efficacy data and amidst a good deal of public protest? Can we learn anything from the fact that all of the European Union countries (except Ireland and parts of England) have rejected fluoridation?

Fluoridation proponents claim a 20 to 40 percent improvement in dental caries (cavities) rates in fluoridated cities. This is based on a small portion of one study of about 39,000 school children that followed dental caries rates in 1986-87. Only about 8,000 of these children fit the forgone conclusion (fluoridation is good), while the data from the other 31,000 children was rejected.

In reality, caries rates are no different in fluoridated versus nonfluoridated communities. To list just one (of many) references making this point is Yiamouyiannis JA (1990) "Water Fluoridation and Tooth Decay: Results from the 1986-87 National Survey of U.S. Schoolchildren," Fluoride, 23, 55-67, which analyzes the data from all 39,000 children. Since 1990, 149 communities in North America (including Juneau) have discontinued fluoridation of their water.

Fluoride is clearly not the answer to dental caries. Overall, as oral hygiene has improved, the general trend for caries rates continues downward, regardless of fluoridation status. A huge amount of early childhood caries is caused by bottle feeding with high-sugar formula or juices, in which these sugary liquids sit on the teeth and literally make them rot. Sugary drinks also cause obesity and diabetes. Adding fluoride to the water is not the solution to any of our public health problems.

Part of the solution is to take as much personal responsibility for your health as possible. Stay informed and make choices. Please vote no to enforced fluoridation on Oct. 2.

• Emily Kane is a naturopathic doctor and Juneau resident.

USA - HUMBOLDT Support grows for fluoridation August

Support grows for fluoridation August 14, 2007
Daniel Mintz
Eye Correspondent
HUMBOLDT – Results of initial surveying done by the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District and the Humboldt Community Services District show majority support for fluoridation of drinking water and the water district’s board will decide whether to do a study on it next September.
The municipal customers that get water from the district are considering system-wide fluoridation. Arcata and Eureka already fluoridate, but are interested in having it done on the other side of the meter. The district’s other wholesale customers – McKinleyville, Blue Lake, Manila, Glendale/Fieldbrook and the Humboldt Community Services District – also support considering the idea, although Manila is reluctant and its CSD board has voted to put fluoridation on the November ballot for an advisory vote.
And as the water district and its municipal customers consider a $38,000 proposal from a consulting firm on a fluoridation study, results of a first round of surveying have been announced. At the Aug. 9 water district board meeting, General Manager Carol Rische said a majority of the agency’s 180 retail water customers – mostly homeowners who live beyond municipal areas – support fluoridation along with those served by the Humboldt Community Services District.
The water district got 78 survey responses from its retail customers, and 56 percent of them are in favor of adding fluoride. Thirty-six percent are opposed and the rest are undecided. Surveying done by the Humboldt CSD showed a 65 percent majority in favor of fluoridation, but the response rate was only 21 percent.
Rische related the results to last November’s ballot election in Arcata, where anti-fluoride ballot Measure W was strongly defeated. Fluoridation is likely to have majority support in all or most of the district’s communities, but some people don’t want it in their water and they argue that minority percentages represent significant numbers.
Proceeding carefully, the water district has gotten a proposal from the San Francisco-based Kennedy/Jenks consulting firm for a study on the logistics of adding fluoride – and subtracting it later, as Arcata and particularly Manila have asked for information on that.
The study would cost $38,000, an amount that would be covered by the municipalities and the district’s retail customers. Arcata’s share of the cost would be $7,172, Blue Lake would pay $939 and Manila would pay $451. The study would analyze how a fluoridation system can be added to the district’s turbidity reduction facility, looking at cost and environmental factors. Each customer’s cost share would be determined, both for the addition of fluoride and, if any one later decides against it, taking it out.
Costs of having each municipality fluoridate on their own would also be estimated. Board members decided to hold off on accepting Kennedy/Jenks’ offer until all the municipalities have a chance to review it. A decision on going ahead with the study will be made at the board’s September meeting.
Public comment was lighter at the meeting than at previous ones, but Susan Buckley of the county’s Public Health Branch reiterated her department’s support for fluoride and Maureen Lawlor, a Blue Lake resident representing St. Joseph’s Health System, said the hospital is also in favor.
Another audience member asked if he could do a PowerPoint presentation on the disadvantages of fluoride at a future meeting. The board was initially open to that, but Rische said that County Health Officer Ann Lindsay – whose support for fluoridation has been criticized by fluoride skeptics – also asked to do a presentation, and after more talking, all agreed that it’s too early to be talking about the pros and cons.
Boardmembers said they want to get word from the municipalities on whether the study should be done before making decisions on how public comment and requests to do presentations will be handled.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

USA - Fluoride to be added to Carlsbad's water

Fluoride to be added to Carlsbad's water
By: BARBARA HENRY - Staff Writer
CARLSBAD ---- Customers of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District can expect to receive postcards by the end of August notifying them that fluoride will be added to the city's water supply starting Oct. 1.
People who live in southern Carlsbad and obtain their water from the city's two other water districts ---- Olivenhain and Vallecitos ---- can expect similar notifications.
It's the first stage of a publicity campaign across Southern California, city water operations Superintendent Steve Plyler told the Carlsbad City Council on Tuesday night.
San Diego County is one of the latecomers to the fluoridation movement, he added. A chemical compound, fluoride has been added to toothpaste as well as to drinking water for decades in an effort to improve dental health.
Recent state legislation and new grant funding have provided the push for San Diego to join other parts of the country, Plyler added. Metropolitan Water District ---- Southern California's main water provider ---- is orchestrating the project in conjunction with the regional San Diego County Water Authority.
"It's about time," Councilman Mark Packard, a local dentist, declared as Plyler's fluoride presentation ended. "It will be a plus for us now to tell our patients the water is fluoridated."
Dentists have long argued that the substance can help prevent tooth decay and reduce the risk of cavities. But while many health care professionals support the fluoridation movement, it has been controversial in recent years.
Escondido residents waged a four-year court battle in an effort to keep fluoride out their water supply. In their court case, which ultimately was unsuccessful, they argued that the substance might contain lead and arsenic at levels that could cause cancer.
Other fluoride opponents have argued that the nation's fluoridation effort is a plot by chemical companies to handily dispose of one of their unwanted production byproducts.
Carlsbad Mayor Bud Lewis said Tuesday that the San Diego County Water Authority has heard from many folks who oppose fluoridation.
"We've had some speakers that were very convincing that this is a bad thing," said Lewis, who sits on the water authority's board.
However, Carlsbad council members had no opposition to the fluoridation plans Tuesday. Most of their questions centered on what might happen if a proposed desalination plant is built in town. Plans for that plant, which would turn sea water into drinking water, are slated to go before the state Coastal Commission later this year.
Plyler said it would be "doable" to put fluoride into the drinking water that comes from the proposed desalination plant, but said the details still need to be worked out.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Letter from NYSCOF

Fluoridation never put a dent in dentists' income. Don't let them fool you. The Wall Street Journal reports dentists work fewer days and fewer hours and make more money than physicians while doing less critical care, such as spa and tooth whitening treatments.Why Dentists Are SmilingThey Now Average Higher Incomes Than Some Physicians http://www.wsjclassroomedition.com/archive/05apr/care_dentist.htm No American is or ever was fluoride-deficient. However, today Americans are dentist-deficient. Dentists make so much money, they turn away people who need them the most. 80% refuse to treat Medicaid patients. And over 40% of Americans don't have dental insurance.Fluoridation gives the illusion that organized dentistry is trying to solve the tooth decay crisis that occurred on their watch, when in fact, they are saying. "Let Them Eat Fluoride."nyscof Homepage 08.12.07 - 6:04 pm #

USA - New Jersey

New images may unlock girl's identity
Posted by The Times of Trenton August 13, 2007 10:02PM
She was young, about 5 to 9 years old, wore black Nike sneakers and carried a bag, maybe a backpack, that bore an image of Sylvester the Cat, the cartoon character who often chased after Tweety Bird. The New Jersey State Police know so much about the girl, whose skeletal remains were found in tall grass by a hunter in Upper Freehold in March 2005.
They know she was black, probably died between 2001 and 2004 and they know from her teeth that she likely lived in a community with fluoride in the water...............

How did they know, did she have fluorosis?

Monday, August 13, 2007

USA - Underlying irony in the push for fluoridated water?

Dental care key at talks State, county officials discuss access for lower-income residentsBy TOM JOYCE Daily Record/Sunday NewsArticle Launched: 08/12/2007 02:54:47 AM EDTAug 12, 2007 — Dr. Veasey Cullen Jr., sees an underlying irony in the push for fluoridated water. Those who most support making it mandatory and universal are those who have the most to lose from that arrangement. To wit: dental professionals such as himself. “If you have fluoridated water, dentists are the ones who won't see the patients as much,” Cullen said. Cullen's periodontology practice is in Hanover, serviced by one of the water systems in York that does have enhanced levels of fluoride. Cullen said he has never sat down and analyzed the respective records of his patients from Hanover vs. those from the non-fluoridated municipalities. But he has no doubt that the presence of fluoride in the water helps ward off tooth decay. And the way he sees it, fluoridated water is one way to help people who have trouble affording other forms of health care. “We can do an awful lot to help people who don't have other means,” Cullen said. The access that people with lower incomes have to dental care and the fluoridation of public water were two topics that several state and county officials addressed during a recent panel discussion on York County's oral health delivery system. The discussion took place Tuesday afternoon at Family First Health, on South George Street in York, before an audience of about 70 health and human services providers. Participating were Estelle Richman, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare; state Sen. Mike Waugh, R-Shrewsbury; state Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-West Manchester; Robin Rohrbaugh, executive director of the Healthy York County Coalition; and Dr. John Bush, a dentist who serves on York County's Head Start Health Advisory Board. Several public water systems in York County provide fluoridated water. But York Water Co., which provides water for more than 150,000 county residents, does not. Rohrbaugh said the Healthy York County Coalition would like to change that. “It's something we've been working on since 1994, when the coalition was created,” Rohrbaugh said. York Water President Jeff Osman said that his company has polled customers in the past, and the majority of them stated they did not want fluoridated water. He declined to speculate on their reasons. The issue has been controversial in York County. People who don't want fluoride in their water have said it's either unnecessary or ineffective, and others say it may even cause some health problems. Osman said his company would add fluoride to the mix if mandated to do so by a government entity. But until and unless that mandate comes along, Osman said York Water Company won't take that step because it isn't the company's decision to make. “The company's position is that this is a public health issue, and somebody in that field should make the call,” he said. “We purify and distribute water, and we're pretty good at it, but we're not public health officials.” At the panel discussion, both DePasquale and Waugh expressed their support for proposed legislation in the state House of Representatives that would mandate the fluoridation of public water in Pennsylvania. DePasquale cited figures he said he got from the Women, Infants and Children program of York County. WIC is a federally funded, state-administered program that provides nutrition service for Pennsylvania children up to the age of 5. According to those figures, children participating in that program within York County have a far higher incidence of recognizable dental problems in York County than they do in Allegheny County or Philadelphia - with respective numbers of 5.45 percent, 0.38 percent and 0.74 percent. Both Allegheny County and Philadelphia have fluoridated water supplies. Statewide, that figure is 2.49 percent. DePasquale said he knows those respective percentages don't amount to a scientific assessment of the relative water supplies' effect of dental health. Still, he said, any likely health advantage for the county would be worth it. “All York County children should have the same access to healthy teeth as they have in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh,” DePasquale said. Reach Tom Joyce at 771-2089 or tjoyce@ydr.com.

Australia - Fluoride sparks fierce debate

Fluoride sparks fierce debate
Jeff Whalley 13Aug07
A WATER war has erupted between the region's politicians over the impending addition of fluoride to the city's water supply. State Upper House Democratic Labor Party member Peter Kavanagh has written to Premier John Brumby complaining that fluoride was being foisted upon the region without a local referendum to decide the issue. ``I must state that there are reasons favouring fluoridation but also a growing body of evidence which suggests the need to be very cautious,'' Mr Kavanagh said.``Whatever the merits of the argument however, genuine democracy surely demands that wherever practicable, local people decide issues which affect them.'' But state parliamentary secretary for water Michael Crutchfield said Mr Kavanagh was making a ridiculous argument.``There is no body of evidence to say fluoride is harmful,'' the Member for South Barwon said. ``Peter Kavanagh struggles for credibility at the best of times, this is another example of a desperate attempt to seek publicity,'' Mr Crutchfield said there was not ``one iota of credible evidence'' to suggest that fluoride was a danger to public health. ``Our most vulnerable people, our children, are being penalised as a community by not having fluoride in the water. It is a public health disgrace,'' he said. ``Fluoridation of the water supply has bipartisan support and I intend to personally ensure that Geelong has fluoride in the water as soon as possible. Our children deserve it.'' Fluoride will be added to Geelong's water under a State Government plan to pipe up to 16 billion litres to the region. This would equal about half the volume of water used each year in the greater Geelong region. Construction of the 50km pipeline is due to begin in 2010 and be completed in 2011.

NEW DELHI - Oral neglect wipes off city smiles

Oral neglect wipes off city smiles
NEW DELHI: The coming years might see fewer Delhi’ites smiling. It's not the happiness quotient that is declining but orthodontists say that an increasing number of people in the Capital are falling prey to tooth problems. Orthodontists and dentists across Delhi maintain that, in spite of growing awareness about oral hygiene, people in Delhi and elsewhere in the country have failed to imbibe healthy oral practices which keep tooth problems at bay. As a result, tooth problems — in particular instances of tooth decay — have been spiralling, often requiring removal of the tooth or surgery. Says Dr. Naseem Shah, HoD, Dental surgery, AIIMS: "The standard of oral hygiene amongst Indians is extremely low. Although people talk about healthy practices like brushing their teeth twice a day and visiting the dentist once in six months, very few adhere to it. Ignorance is the primary reason why an increasing number of dental problems are taking a serious turn. Around 50 percent of Indians suffer from some tooth problem or other and are prone to tooth decay." Tooth decay happens due to demineralisation of the tooth. Teeth have four parts — enamel, dentine, cementum and pulp. It starts with enamel and slowly progresses to affect the pulp. In the initial stage there is no pain or obvious evidence of tooth decay. It is only in the later stages, when the decay starts affecting the pulp that it starts hurting. The pain starts suddenly and is quite severe in nature. There is no option except to go for root canal or removal of the tooth. Indians have never been conscious about oral hygiene. The primary reason behind most cases of tooth decay is our diet. Studies have shown that certain ethnic groups are more prone to tooth decay as diet has a huge impact on the health of teeth. Delhiites especially — with their high consumption of sweets, potato based products, white flour based products and junk food are at high risk of tooth decay. There are already millions of bacteria present in the mouth and they act upon the food particles, especially carbohydrates to produce an acid which erodes the tooth. When bacteria acts upon the food particles, it produces dental plaque that builds around the tooth almost every eight hours and harms the teeth, which is why frequent brushing is essential. It's not only consumption of food rich in carbohydrates and sugar that brings about tooth decay but also the frequency of consumption : "Having three helpings of a sweet dish once a day is better than having one helping three times a day," says Dr Neeraj Verma of Apollo Hospital. A diet rich in calcium and fluoride also help strengthen the tooth enamel. Fluoride is the biggest enemy of dentist as it prevents tooth decay to a large extent. In many developed countries water is fluoridated. "In places like USA, fluoridation of water and fluoride based tooth pastes have helped reduce tooth decay to a large extent. However, such measures are absent in India", says Dr. Ramesh Mathur, Hod, department of dentistry, Max Healthcare. kamayani.singh@timesgroup.com

I thought that India had a problem with too much fluoride in the water.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

About 8 million Ethiopians at risk of fluoride-related health problems: report

An estimated 8.5 million Ethiopians, 12 percent of the country's population, are at risk from fluoride, a chemical substance which can become toxic when consumed in high concentration, the private Daily Monitor English- language newspaper reported Saturday.A high concentration of the substance in water used for domestic consumption becomes toxic and spoils the natural color and texture of human teeth, the report said, quoting Berhanu Gizaw, a geological survey expert.Studies indicate the volcanic rocks of East Africa are found to be richer in fluoride than analogous rocks in other parts of the world.......................................

Expensive cure for fluorosis

What Can Porcelain Veneers do to Improve my Smile? Published 08/12/2007 - 12:36 a.m. GMT(PressMediaWire) - Porcelain veneers are one of the aesthetically pleasing and popular means a cosmetic dentist uses to create a more beautiful smile. Porcelain veneers are super thin shells of ceramic material, which are bonded to the front of the teeth. Applying porcelain veneers is a rather simple procedure that requires little or no anesthesia and is the ideal choice for improving the appearance of the front of your teeth. When food/drinks, age and cigarettes discolor teeth, porcelain veneers are the choice to brighten teeth and improve your smile. Porcelain veneers are highly resistant to staining and can achieve a very strong bond to the teeth underneath easily surpassing other restorative dental options.Porcelain veneers are a conservative approach to improving the appearance of teeth adversely affected by too much fluoride as a child, stained from the use of antibiotics with tetracycline, or simply unattractive due to injury, fillings, or decay. Patients who have gaps between teeth or chipped teeth may want to consider porcelain veneers. Just like crowns, veneers can last many years if they are properly applied..The ProcedureTypically, the application of porcelain veneers takes three visits to the dentist: diagnosis and planning, preparation and bonding. During the first visit, you will take an active role in the design of your new smile. Your dentist will explain veneers thoroughly to you and decisions about what is best for you will be made. During the second visit, preparation, the teeth will be prepared for the veneers by first being lightly buffed. Only about a half a millimeter of the tooth is removed; this may require local anesthetic. A mold is then take of the teeth, which is sent to the lab that will make your veneers.The third and last appointment will take approximately 1-2 hours. First, the porcelain veneers are placed on the teeth to check their fit and color. At this time, the color can still be adjusted, but the color cannot be changed after the veneers are cemented in place. To apply the veneer, the teeth are cleansed with a solution to achieve a bond. A special cement is placed between the veneer and the tooth, and a visible light beam initiates the release of a catalyst to harden the cement.After approximately two weeks, you should return to your dentist for a follow-up visit. Keep in mind that upon close inspection, you may detect slight variations in the color of the veneers compared to your own teeth. This is common and even occurs with our natural teeth.MaintenanceProper maintenance of your new porcelain veneers is crucial to their longevity. After your veneers are applied, we suggest:Brushing and flossing as you normally would. Do not be afraid that you will damage your veneers by your usual brushing and flossing. Some sensitivity is normal after having veneers applied. Hot and cold temperatures may cause some sensitivity. Eat a normal diet. Please avoid anything that will bend or twist the veneers. Inform your dentist if you have a habit of clenching or grinding your teeth at night. He may suggest a nightguard to minimize the stress on your teeth while you sleep. If you would like to learn more about the application of porcelain veneers, please contact James Klim, D.D.S., serving cosmetic dentistry patients in San Francisco and Santa Rosa, California.

Friday, August 10, 2007

USA - Health experts bare teeth on fluoride

More than 600 scientists and health experts are urging Congress to halt the addition of fluoride to public drinking water until the controversial treatment is proven safe. In a strong statement Thursday, the health professionals called upon lawmakers to stop fluoridation in communities across the nation until their safety concerns are reviewed at congressional hearings. The group, the Fluoride Action Network, cited fresh scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and carries serious health risks No hearings on fluoridation are currently planned before any Senate or House committee. Among the petitioners is Arvid Carlsson, 84, a Swedish scientist best known for his work with the neurotransmitter dopamine and its effects in Parkinson's disease and a co-recipient the 2000 Nobel Prize for Medicine. “Fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology,” he said. “It's really obsolete.” The anti-fluoride signers are challenging the powerful American Dental Association, which is well-entrenched on Capitol Hill and calls fluoridation one of the best public health ideas ever. Dr. Sally Cram, an ADA spokeswoman, told Roberta Baskin, an investigative reporter for WJLA-TV, “Absolutely, fluoride is safe, it’s effective, it has reduced the decay rate in the population by about 20 to 40 percent over the last 60 years.” Baskin’s report aired on the Washington ABC-TV affiliate Thursday. Baskin also interviewed Bob Carton, a former toxic substance scientist at the Environmental Protection Agency, who told her that adding fluoride to water was a mistake from the beginning. “It was a foolish thing to do years ago,” Carton said. “They didn’t have enough information. It hadn’t really been tested.” Baskin cited a recent study by the National Academy of Sciences that concluded toxic levels of fluoride can lead to severe, permanent pitting of the enamel in children’s teeth and that fluoride can also build up in the bones to cause pain, stiff joints and skeletal abnormalities when they get older. She reported, however, that “the Environmental Protection Agency isn’t about to make any quick decisions about the academy’s finding that toxic levels of fluoride must be drastically lowered.” Baskin’s WJLA report also featured an interview with Benjamin Grumbles, an EPA water quality specialist, who told her, “We take [the academy’s] recommendations very seriously. We also have a commitment to get additional information and validate it and work with other public health authorities.” Supporters of fluoridation cite research by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that shows fluoridation of drinking correlates to reductions in tooth decay on the order of 15 percent to 40 percent in municipalities across the United States. Excessive amounts of the chemical, however, can lead not only to irreversible tooth discoloration, a condition called “fluorosis,” but also to other health issues, including an increased risk of bone breakage, particularly among the elderly. The problem, according to the Fluoride Action Network, is that the very water that is treated for dental purposes is also used in the preparation of many food products -- from baby formula and cereal to juices, sodas, wines, beers and even fresh produce. These scientists hold that since most toothpastes also contain added fluoride, many people are ingesting far more fluoride than they should. Water fluoridation by public authorities has often provoked controversy. Advocates say that it is similar to fortifying salt with iodine, milk with vitamin D and orange juice with vitamin C and claim it is an effective method of preventing tooth decay. The Fluoride Action Network and other opponents, however, contend that fluoridation can have harmful health effects such as bone cancer and osteoporosis. Another issue is the potential discoloration of children's second teeth once the baby teeth are gone. Besides being embarrassing, there is no cure. Several studies have also shown how low-to-moderate doses of fluoride can lead to eczema, reduced thyroid activity, hyperactivity, IQ deficits and premature puberty. Some opponents also claim that releasing fluoride compounds into municipal water supplies takes away individual choice as to the substances a person ingests and amounts to forced mass medication. On the other side, concerns have risen that our increased reliance on nonfluoridated bottled water instead of fluoride-treated tap water, especially among teenagers, may be leading to increases in tooth decay. The Food and Drug Administration has long required warning labels to keep toothpaste out of the reach of children under 6 years old. “If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away,” the mandatory labels say. In 2005, Baskin reported, some 22,000 Americans did so. “Too much of any good thing can be a bad thing,” the ADA’s Cram told Baskin in their on-air interview. However, Cram added, “we prevent a lot of suffering and pain that is totally unnecessary and preventable, both in adults and children.”