Fluoride, options

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Is Fluoride Making Children Dumber?

Those are the most asked-about topics over the last couple of weeks. We have a lot of questions about these topics to answer this week, so let’s get to them…

Q: I have read various information about fluoride and teeth health. My current understanding is that fluoride only provides an almost insignificant amount (2%-3%) improvement on the health of your teeth, but only if it is applied topically. Ingested fluoride has no added benefit and may be harmful to young children.

There was a Harvard study suggesting fluoride in the water can reduce the intelligence of people affected. I have young children and I’m concerned about how fluoride treatment affects their health. Also I am curious how these types of treatment affect baby teeth vs grownup teeth. Meaning, does it really matter if fluoride is applied to baby teeth? Can you provide some insight into this? – K.

A: I believe we read the same 2012 Harvard study. According to the study, children who drank water with fluoride ended up with lower intelligence scores than children who didn’t. Researchers also linked fluoride drinking by pregnant mothers with lower IQ scores in their children.

Unfortunately, that’s not the only risk… Fluoride consumption is also linked to thyroid disease and cancer.

Fluoride is everywhere… Most toothpaste brands include fluoride, as do most municipal water supplies.

Water fluoridation – the addition of fluoride to the public water supply – has been terminated in many countries – including Germany, Sweden, and Japan – on suspicion of health risks. Cavity rates did not change. And yet, the U.S. continues to dump this dangerous chemical into our water.

To limit your exposure, do what I do… Avoid toothpaste with fluoride. I also limit the amount of tap water I drink and look for bottled or filtered water without fluoride.