Fluoride the still best guard against cavities?

Mark Amberg ("New Fluoride Rules Yet to Be Proven Safe," Jan. 19 letter) substantially misrepresented the recent announcement of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concerning a proposed lowering of the recommended level of fluoride to be used with community water fluoridation.

The new recommendation is not related to the allowable levels of fluoride, just the recommendations. As with virtually all such federal government announcements, the official announcement was published in the Federal Register for public comment. Thereafter, the appropriate government agencies will consider the comments and eventually finalize the recommendations.

The author failed to mention that the federal government agencies did not question the effectiveness or safety of community water fluoridation, but rather strongly reaffirmed their endorsement of community water fluoridation based on strong scientific evidence.

Their recommended lower level of fluoride in the water simply reflects primarily that there are many more sources of fluoride now than there were 60 years ago when community water fluoridation was begun, and as a result cavity rates are much lower, on average, than they used to be.

Community water fluoridation is safe and effective in preventing cavities for both children and adults. It is by far the most cost-effective way to prevent cavities.

- Steven M. Levy, D.D.S., M.P.H., University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City


Comment
nyscof
5:47 AM on January 28, 2011
Levy gets grant money to study fluoride. Here's some of his findings:
"Current evidence strongly suggests that fluorides work primarily by topical means through direct action on the teeth and dental plaque. Thus ingestion of fluoride is not essential for caries (cavity)
prevention," report Warren and Levy in Dental Clinics of North America, April 2003.
"There has been an increase in the prevalence of fluorosis," reports Steven Levy, DDS, Professor, University of Iowa, in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association....With more severe forms of fluorosis, caries risk increases because of pitting and loss of the outer enamel," writes Levy.
"There is no specific nutritional requirement for fluoride...given the increased prevalence of fluorosis, it may be necessary to revise downward the adequate intake levels for fluoride," write Levy and Warren.
"The optimal level of fluoride intake is not known with certainty," writes Levy.
"Total fluoride intake is the true fluorosis risk factor However, this is very difficult to quantify," writes Levy who found:
· 77% of soft drinks had fluoride levels greater than 0.60 ppm

· Two ounces daily baby chicken food provides their maximum dose

· Children's specially-flavored toothpaste increases fluoride ingestion

· Soy-based infant formulas deliver more fluoride than milk-based

· Other foods high in fluoride are teas, dry infant cereals, dried chicken, fish and seafood products

· Fluoridated water added to powdered concentrate ups fluorosis risk

· Grape juices, especially white, contain very high fluoride levels

· 42% of all tested juices and juice drinks had fluoride levels greater than 0.6 ppm

· Fluoride supplements are generally not recommended

· Cereals processed in a fluoridated area contained from 3.8 to 6.3 ppm fluoride

Why is Levy defending fluoride instead of passing on his taxpayer funded information to the public who paid for it?