USA - Fluoride opponent sticks to his guns

Fluoride opponent sticks to his guns
June 6, 2009
My kindest response to Bob Romero ("Numbers don't back fluoride opponents," May 16) is to say I was not using numbers, apart from asking everyone to read "50 Reasons for Not Using Fluoride" by Dr. Paul Connett, a retired chemistry professor from St. Lawrence University. After reading just 10 or 20 reasons, the confusion about fluoride should dissipate.
Another sentence in my original column involving numbers is the scientific fact that breast milk contains 250 times less fluoride than the level recommended by fluoride advocates. The editors titled my column "Have no doubt, Mother Nature knows best." For reasons of space, those numbers might have been removed.
In order to buy toothpaste without fluoride, I had to visit a health-food store. If we look on the tube (containing fluoride), the warning is clear: "If more toothpaste than needed for brushing is swallowed, consult a professional or report to a Poison Control Center."
Skip the numbers and read a warning from the American Dental Association (Nov. 6, 2006) telling mothers not to use fluoridated water in preparing baby formula.
If the professional change of position by dentists is not convincing, then read an article in the January 2008 edition of Scientific American about rethinking the use of fluoride.

Vic Hummert

Lafayette