Canada - The case for fluoridation is overwhelmingly supported by science

The case for fluoridation is overwhelmingly supported by science
Published Friday May 13th, 2011
By Dr. Donald Joyce And Dr. Larry Peacocke
Dental Society Presidents
This is in response to the letter "Concerned about fluoride," published in the Times & Transcript May 2. Our intention is to add to the public debate as desired by the author.

Tooth decay is an infectious disease and the number one chronic disease in children and adolescents in Canada. It is four to five times more common than asthma and the second most expensive disease category in Canada. Untreated tooth decay can lead to infection, pain and abscesses. It can affect school performance and a child's sense of self-worth.

Current studies of our population demonstrate that community water fluoridation reduces the incidence of tooth decay by 18 to 40 per cent. Research also indicates oral health and general health are strongly linked. Fluoridation improves a population's dental health and, as a consequence, its general health.

One of water fluoridation's biggest advantages is that it benefits all residents of a community throughout their lifetime............

Comments disagreeing with the above.
This is great, two dentists who specialize in dentistry to tell us there is nothing wrong with ingesting hydrofluorosilicic acid (fluoride) through our drinking water. Dentists are not experts on fluoride, only when it is used topically. Since the use of fluoride being discussed here is ingested through drinking water, wouldn't an expert on this subject be someone like a Neurologist or a Physician. And how come these dentists never once say anything about where the fluoride is actually coming from. The substance used for fluoridationg our drinking water is hydrofluorosilicic acid and is collected from smoke stack emissions of phosphate fertilizer manufactoring. It is an industrial toxic waste and is considered highly toxic by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and is classified as hazardous waste. The fluoride we ingest is not naturally occuring or even the pharmaceutical grade, how can anyone argue these facts? 41Thumbs Up6Thumbs DownFlag as InappropriatePlease select a reason
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James Doohan, Moncton on 13/05/11 06:54:35 AM ADT
Nice to read an article printed in the Times and Transcript regarding this controversial subject. While very informative on the benefits of water fluoridation, I feel that this response to the letter "Concerned about fluoride" is only trying to put a tightly fit lid on the matter when the concern is both valid and honorable. The benefits are well known about fluoride as these points have been made time and time again by some in the dental industry. The author compares the rate of cavities in fluoridated to non-fluoridated communities in countries such as the United States, Ireland and Australia. When in fact just last year Staticts Canada compared both rates in our own country and found no significant difference http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/ontario-fluoride-may-make-minor-difference/article1535873/ 41Thumbs Up1Thumbs DownFlag as InappropriatePlease select a reason
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Mr. X, Moncton on 13/05/11 07:52:06 AM ADT
Dr. Donald Joyce And Dr. Larry Peacocke:

Thanks for the information. Please allow me to raise a few points of concern.

1)Instead of pharmaceutical grade fluoride, the Moncton water is fluoridated with hydrofluorosilicic acid, an industrial toxic waste scrubbed from industry pollution smoke stacks. Is this the substance you are referring to in your article, and has this acid been tested for safety in humans (should we be ingesting it?).

2)Would you recommend infants use fluoridated water when mixing their foods and formula? Would you recommend children under six ingest fluoride in any way, shape or form? If so, why? Health Canada doesnt recommend it:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/fluor-eng.php

There seems to be a disconnect if you read the above statement from Health Canada. We are getting the message to not swallow or ingest fluoride by any means, but go ahead and swallow it in the water supply.

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Merlin 2011, Moncton on 13/05/11 07:55:16 AM ADT
Why I am now officially opposed to adding fluoride to drinking water

Dr. Hardy Limeback, BSc, PhD, DDS
Associate Professor and Head, Preventive Dentistry
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, M5G-1G6

Since April of 1999, I have publicly decried the addition of fluoride, especially hydrofluosilicic acid, to drinking water for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. The following summarize my reasons.

Please read: http://fluoridealert.org/limeback 38Thumbs Up4Thumbs DownFlag as InappropriatePlease select a reason
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Merlin 2011, Moncton on 13/05/11 08:12:15 AM ADT
The WHO also admits cavities decreased worldwide REGARDLESS of where fluoridated water exists. Our city fluoridated, Kitchener does not. Studies show only a 2% difference in cavities, statistically irrelevant.
Statistics only go so far. People in different areas have different habits, different diets, different health outcomes. NO science study ends with "definitively".
Interesting to note also that this drug is ingested and yet apparantly ONLY has radical effects on teeth-nothing else. Suuure. Just because you can't prove a causitive link, doesn't mean one doesn't exist.
Healthwise, the fluoride used is often an industrial waste product, and studies are related to consumption of 1 litre per day. What if you drink more?
Sciencewise, "at high risk of developing caries" is NOT the same as "got fewer cavities" If not, then why not?
This is a drug in our water. It may make sense to fluoridate SCHOOL drinking water, not EVERYBODY'S.