Making Sense of Medicine: The great fluoride debate

Making Sense of Medicine Bob Keller

One might paraphrase Hamlet and say, “To fluoridate or not to fluoridate, that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of chemical poisons, or to take arms against a sea of bad science, and, by opposing, end them?”

Fluoride pollution is one of the most misunderstood controversies in recent times. The old science that led to the widespread use of fluoride in dentistry and in our water supply had many unacknowledged flaws, and there may have been a broad government cover-up of such flaws.

Current research shows some devastating health effects from the uses of the chemical. For one example: A Harvard University study done in conjunction with China University makes a good case for prolonged fluoride in children’s water leading to a reduction in IQ, while a New Zealand study shows that there is no effect on IQ from fluoride. Who should you believe?

You may expect me to make a clear case for or against fluoride in our water, toothpaste, etc. Alas, I cannot do this in spite of my obvious bias against fluoride in drinking water. Actually, there is good evidence that fluoride in toothpaste is good for children’s teeth. And there is now good evidence that fluoride in drinking water may lead to many neurological and other problems. On both sides, the science is questionable, but there are some relative certainties, as well, and I’ll try to emphasize these..........................................