USA - Why is this stuff in our water?

My name is Becca Reynolds. I’m a wife and a mother to three beautiful girls.

My background is in health and nutrition, so naturally ingredients are important to me, I actually enjoy reading through research studies. Here is a bit of my findings and thoughts on a particular ingredient that is found in our water.

Earlier this month (Feb. 18) researchers in New York reported that “excessive fluoride ingestion during childhood results in defective tooth enamel mineralization, which can lead to dental problems later in life.” Too much fluoride causes fluorosis which actually increases the risk of cavities.

In 2019 the National Toxicology Program published a study concluding that “fluoride is presumed to be a cognitive neurodevelopmental hazard to humans. The conclusion is based on studies across several different populations showing that higher fluoride exposure is associated with decreased IQ or other cognitive impairments in children.”

Another study, at Harvard, went on to say that the proper studies have not been done and we do not know the complete impact of fluoride on children’s neurodevelopment. But would you want to sign your kid up to be a guinea pig in a research study of that kind? I know I wouldn’t.

But to keep giving kids or anyone, fluoridated water on a daily basis feels a bit like involving us in a research study that we didn’t consent to.

I personally know several individuals who are currently dealing with thyroid issues. Oddly enough, Up until about 1950, in Europe and South America, fluoride was prescribed as a thyroid suppressant for patients who had an overactive thyroid. It did not take much fluoride to successfully  slow down their thyroid activity.

There have been studies done in China, Russia and India showing a link between fluoride and hypothyroidism. Fluoride alters thyroid hormone production. I’m sure we are all aware of the fact that thyroid health is crucial for overall health. Thyroid issues may be common, but they are not normal. I believe this is due to chronic toxicity from long-term exposure to fluoride.

NO fluoride deficiency disease has ever been documented for humans. There’s not one case of documented fluoride deficiency because we are not fluoride deficient and we never have been. The scientific World Journal has stated that “Fluoride is not essential for human growth and development.”

Would you continue to supplement your diet with a product your body was not deficient in? Would you continue to supplement your child’s diet with a product they were not at all deficient in?

I could go on and on quoting research study after research study that gives us insight to why Sweden, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Israel and many others stopped fluoridating their water. In one way or another they claimed it was “due to concerns of safety and effectiveness.”

There is a world-wide trend happening. People are realizing that long-term fluoridation is unnatural and that it comes with harmful side effects.

Let me read to you the warning that comes on a regular box of fluoride toothpaste.

DO NOT SWALLOW

USE A PEA SIZED AMOUNT FOR CHILDREN UNDER 6

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN UNDER 6

GET MEDICAL HELP OR CONTACT POISON CONTROL IF ACCIDENTALLY SWALLOWED

Am I expected to be unconcerned with continually ingesting fluoride over the course of my lifetime? What about my children?

Georgia is one of the most fluoridated states in America, with 96% of the population fluoridated. A tiny percentage of Georgians have a well on their property.

I’m concerned about public health but mostly, I’m standing before you as a concerned mother who wants the best for her children and their entire generation. The studies I’ve been digging through show us that children seem to be the most affected by fluoride ingestion in the form of fluoridated water.

The time has come to end this “mass medication.” (2013 study) Even federal Health and Human Services in a 2000 letter to Congress called fluoride a drug that should be regulated by FDA.

Nearly everybody today is aware of the dangers associated with lead. Lead causes brain damage. Lead-based paint was banned in 1978 but it was 74 years prior, in 1904, when the first reports surfaced about lead being highly poisonous. It took 74 years before the government finally banned it.

When it comes to fluoridated water, which side of history will you be on? Let’s work towards repealing the Georgia law that requires fluoridation.

Becca Reynolds

Peachtree City, Ga.

What’s in Children’s Drinking Water? Far Too Often, Something Neurotoxic

This CDC-endorsed practice has persisted for decades despite an avalanche of evidence that the chemical—an industrial waste product—is lowering IQ and that fluoride produces neurodevelopmental toxicity comparable to the effects of lead.

Flagrantly unjustifiable fluoride

Fluoride stands apart from other water contaminants in that water systems add it to drinking water on purpose...........

House of Commons

Kate Griffiths Conservative, Burton  3:39 pm, 26th February 2020

It is a pleasure to follow Alex Sobel and to make my maiden speech in this pertinent debate, given the recent extreme weather that we have endured across the country. I will speak about the Bill and its importance a little later on, but I will first talk about the constituency that I love and have the privilege of representing in this place.

I have listened with great interest to many of the maiden speeches in recent weeks, and to the reasons each new Member has given as to why their area is so important to them and, indeed, our country. However, there is no doubt that it is my constituency and home town of Burton that has for generations provided the real driving force behind this nation’s success—beer. Although my constituency’s history and culture is as rich as the water that infuses the beer we produce, it cannot be denied that it is brewing that has truly put Burton on the map. It is the sulphate-rich hard water of the Trent, combined with the industrious spirit of Burton’s people, that has led to the town’s setting the standard for high-quality pale ale. That has led brewers worldwide to “Burtonise” their water, in an attempt to mimic our great local tradition.

This proud heritage reverberates through all areas of my constituency, including the sporting one. It has given the mighty Burton Albion football club their nickname “the Brewers”. Here I must declare an interest. Before entering this place, I was fortunate enough to work for the club, although I cannot take all the credit for their hard-earned football league status, which came in 2009 following a victorious season in the Conference.

I have always felt that the name of my constituency is incomplete, and I sincerely hope that in any forthcoming boundary reviews, consideration is given to renaming it Burton and Uttoxeter. Uttoxeter is a beautiful market town, and it is the proud home of the world-leading construction equipment manufacturer, JCB. The company’s yellow diggers are instantly recognisable the world over, and it was at JCB that the Prime Minister famously bulldozed through the Brexit wall last December, emphatically signifying his commitment to break the parliamentary deadlock and foreshadowing his success in dismantling the so-called red wall on election day.

I pay tribute to one of my most admirable predecessors, Sir Ivan Lawrence, whose notable parliamentary achievements include a private Member’s Bill that led to the creation of the national lottery. He also gave the longest parliamentary speech of the 20th century, at 4 hours 23 minutes, on the matter of water fluoridation. I will watch the Government’s legislative agenda with interest, and I am prepared to swoop in with a speech of 4 hours 24 minutes, should an increase in fluoridation be proposed.

Aside from the preservation of water quality, I know that this Government are committed to dealing with some of the most pressing issues that my constituents face today. I am pleased with the renewed focus on infrastructure. In my constituency, we desperately need the safety issues on the A38 to be addressed. My predecessor, Sir Ivan Lawrence, raised that matter in the House some 55 years ago, and it is still a critical issue for my constituents today. As we meet the Government’s agenda for increased house building, we must ensure that that is matched with investment in critical routes, such as the A50 in Uttoxeter. I pledge that in this House I will do all I can to bring about that investment and those much-needed improvements.

We must also deliver for our town centres, which have faced increasing difficulty due to new technology and changing shopping habits. I have very fond memories of the bustling Burton High Street of my childhood. While the face of town centres will undoubtedly be different in this age of the internet, we must do all we can to ensure that they have a thriving future at the heart of our communities.

My constituents are hard-working, resilient people. Throughout our history, we have suffered and overcome adversity. In 1255—I am so sorry, I am going to have to have a quick drink.

Studying fluoride's effect on lead leaching will delay re-introduction 12 months

BRIAN CROSS 

The controversial re-introduction of fluoride will be delayed 12 months while experts operate a miniature mock-up of the water system to test for possible increased lead levels.

The risk of lead leaching is very low, according to a consultant hired by Windsor Utilities Commission. But the 12-month pipe loop study was urged out of an abundance of caution “to ensure that lead release does not increase after fluoride introduction.”

The study will delay fluoridation until November 2021, commissioners were told Wednesday during a progress report on the re-introduction. The city has been without fluoride more than six years and the study will mean another year delay, but WUC officials believe they can do nothing else but recommend the study, said Helga Reidel, CEO of Enwin, which manages the water system for WUC.

“It’s too important. This is the water system,” she told commissioners, who approved the study...............

Fluoride causes defects

Fluoride causes defects in the tooth enamel, study finds

By

 Becky Brickwood

 -

27th February 202

Researchers at NYC College of Dentistry have discovered that changes within enamel cells due to excessive fluoride can lead to fluorosis

The research, published in Science Signaling, reveals that exposing teeth to excessive fluoride alters calcium signalling, mitochondrial function, and gene expression in the cells forming tooth enamel – a novel explanation for how dental fluorosis, a condition caused by overexposure to fluoride during childhood, arises.

Preventing cavities with fluoride

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps to prevent cavities by promoting mineralisation and making tooth enamel more resistant to acid.

Fluoride is added to drinking water around the world, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends a level of 0.7 parts per million, and all toothpaste backed by the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance contain fluoride.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named water fluoridation one of ten great public health achievements of the 20th century for its role in reducing tooth decay.

Dental fluorosis

While low levels of fluoride help strengthen and protect tooth enamel, too much fluoride can cause dental fluorosis which is a discolouration of teeth, usually with opaque white marks, lines, or mottled enamel and poor mineralisation.

Dental fluorosis occurs when children between birth and around nine years of age are exposed to high levels fluoride during this critical window when their teeth are forming, and can actually increase their risk of tooth decay.

A survey by the CDC found that roughly 25% of the U.S. population examined (ages 6 to 49) show some degree of dental fluorosis.

Calcium signalling within the cells

Rodrigo Lacruz, PhD, associate professor of basic science and craniofacial biology at NYU College of Dentistry and the study’s senior author said: “The benefits of fluoride for oral health considerably outweigh the risks, but given how common dental fluorosis is and how poorly understood the cellular mechanisms responsible for this disease are, it is important to study this problem.”

To investigate the molecular bases of dental fluorosis, the researcher team analysed the effects of exposing tooth enamel cells to fluoride levels on the higher end of what you would find in drinking water and consistent with what is found in areas where people commonly have fluorosis. They then assessed fluoride’s impact on calcium signalling within the cells, given calcium’s role in mineralising tooth enamel.

Disrupting the function of the mitochondria

The researchers found that exposing enamel cells from rodents to fluoride resulted in calcium dysregulation, with decreases in calcium entering and stored in the endoplasmic reticulum, a compartment within cells with many functions, including storing calcium. Additionally, fluoride disrupted the function of mitochondria (the cells’ power generators), and therefore energy production was altered.

Finally, RNA sequencing queries the genomes of cells. The sequencing revealed that, in enamel cells exposed to fluoride, there was an increased expression of genes encoding endoplasmic reticulum stress response proteins and those encoding mitochondrial proteins, which are involved in producing the cell’s energy.

Fluoride puts the cells under stress

Lacruz explained: “This gives us a very promising mechanistic view of how fluorosis arises. If your cells have to make enamel, which is heavily calcified, and due to exposure to too much fluoride the cells undergo continued stress in their capacity to handle calcium, that will be reflected in the enamel crystals as they are formed and will impact mineralisation.”

The researchers then repeated the experiment using early-stage kidney cells from humans, but they did not observe the same effects when the kidney cells were exposed to fluoride, suggesting that enamel cells are different from cells forming tissue in other parts of the body.

Lazcrus concluded: “You would think that if you expose the enamel cells and kidney cells to the same stressor, treating them with the same amount of fluoride for the same period of time, that you’d have more or less similar responses. But that was not the case,

“Under the same circumstances, enamel cells react to coping with stress in vastly different ways than kidney cells. We are unravelling a mechanism that highlights the uniqueness of enamel cells and explains why fluorosis is more of a problem in the teeth than anywhere else in the body.”

from George Pinnell

Fluoride—Drinking Ourselves to Death? - The Truth About Cancer

thetruthaboutcancer.com

Ty Bollinger is a happily married husband, the father of four wonderful children, devoted Christian, best-selling author, medical researcher, talk radio host, health freedom advocate, former competitive bodybuilder and also a certified public accountant.After losing several family members to cancer (including his mother and father), Ty refused to accept the notion that chemotherapy, radiation ...

Guiseley vets warning on tooth disease

By Annette McIntyreReporter

......................He added: “Cleaning teeth from being a puppy or kitten makes things easier, but even later in life you can soon get pets used to being handled around the mouth. There are lots of starter brushes that can be worn on a finger that also make it easier to brush the teeth, and it’s absolutely essential to use cat specific and dog specific toothpaste – not human toothpaste as it contains fluoride. The key to good dental health is little and often and to reward your pet after brushing.”.....................

Unable to see this over stupid EU rules

Lake Delton village board will proceed with fluoride removal ...

WiscNews-12 hours ago

The debate over fluoride in Lake Delton's water supply continued, as an area dentist spoke at the Feb. 24 Lake Delton village board meeting on behalf of ...

'I don't know how the township can choose to medicate us': Fluoride fight in West Manchester

Chairman Jim Bentzel, of Shiloh Water Authority speaks during a special meeting with West Manchester Township Board of Supervisors in West Manchester Township, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. The authority submitted an application to the Department of Environmental Protection in November requesting permission to discontinue adding fluoride to water. Dawn J. Sagert photo

The York Dispatch

Dental experts, residents concerned about personal liberties and conspiracy theorists weighed in Monday at a public meeting on Shiloh Water Co.'s plan to stop adding fluoride to its water.

The meeting of the water company board members at the West Manchester Township Municipal Building came as Shiloh Water awaits approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection to remove fluoride from the water supplied to roughly half of the township.

West Manchester Township is served by one of the five water systems in York County that fluoridates its water, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are 58 water systems total in the county.

"It’s just really simple for me. It's considered a drug by the Federal Drug Administration," said Mary Baxter, of West Manchester Township. "We should have the choice of drugs we're taking. I don't know how the township can choose to medicate us." 

More: Shiloh Water Authority to reconsider fluoride removal plan

More: West Manchester water supplier aims to remove fluoride; township officials say they can't stop it

Others in support of the removal of fluoride made claims it leads to osteoporosis and attention deficit disorder, debunked theories that are often used to argue against the use of fluoride.

Shiloh Water is scheduled to hold a vote in the last week of March, said Jim Bentzel, the chairman of Shiloh's board, who added that some of the claims made during the meeting "weren't entirely true."

Local dentists were present and offered their expert opinions.

"There is a crisis with cavities, and dental decay is an epidemic," said York City-based dentist Joe Mountain. "Fluoride in water is one of the few tools we have. It it very safe. The history is there, the evidence is there."

Science is largely on the side of the dentists who spoke.

The CDC has called fluoridation of public water systems one of the most successful public health initiatives in the country's history. Fluoride has been shown to prevent cavities and have an overall positive effect on dental health. 

After hearing testimony from both sides, Bentzel declined to say whether the speakers swayed his decision that will come in late March.

The West Manchester Township board of supervisors has come out strongly against the water authority's effort to remove fluoride. 

But while the board appoints members to the authority's board, it has no jurisdiction over the water supplier's decision, under state law. The authority is considered a municipal agency, answerable solely to state regulators. 

If Shiloh's application is approved, fluoridation could be stopped within 30 days. 

— Logan Hullinger can be reached at lhullinger@yorkdispatch.com or via Twitter at @LoganHullYD.

UK government under pressure about lack of water fluoridation

LONDON, UK: Currently, six million people in the UK are supplied with fluoridated water, and around 300,000 are supplied with water which contains naturally occurring fluoride. In a recent call to action, the Oral Health Foundation has asked the UK government to step up its efforts to expand the areas of fluoridation across the country.

The current state of the UK’s general oral health is well below an acceptable level, and the Oral Health Foundation, along with NHS England and the Community Water Fluoridation network, believes that community water fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure for improving the oral health of children and tackling oral inequality among disadvantaged communities.

Recently, pressure has been put on the UK government by the British Dental Association about the lack of funding for dentistry within the NHS, and the newly elected government will have to address the issue of water fluoridation. “We’re delighted that NHS England and the Community Water Fluoridation network, along with several MPs, are raising the issue of water fluoridation again,” said Dr Nigel Carter, OBE, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation.

In the UK, tooth extractions remain the number one reason for hospital admissions of 5- to 9-year-olds. However, some studies, such as the 2017 technical report titled A Complete Waste of Money! Water Fluoridation Costs for England, 2013–2021, have concluded that better gains could be made by cutting the water fluoridation programme and diverting some of the finance to targeted sustainable and effective oral health initiatives.

However, in a comment unrelated to the aforementioned study, the Oral Health Foundation noted that, while the fluoridation of water supplies would not completely solve the problem, it would make a significant impact in turning the tide on children’s oral health.

Go to web page by clicking title to send your comments

Science for You: About that water fluoridation debate …

By ROLLIN C. RICHMOND |

There was recently a discussion in the Arcata City Council about the proposed elimination of fluoride from water delivered to homes. There was also a recent letter to the editor published in the Mad River Union arguing that water fluoridation is dangerous and should be stopped. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine reported that a survey of 1,351 adults across our country reports that 12% believe that water fluoridation is just a way for chemical companies to pollute our water without having to worry about its consequences. There is a lot of scientific research about this subject which is summarized below.

Evidence from European countries that use fluoridated water shows that it results in big declines in tooth decay. It is also true that most of our toothpastes include fluoride to reduce tooth decay. There are also many studies that demonstrate that fluoridation has no bad health effects. Indeed, the World Dental Federation and the World Health Organization have both supported the use of water fluoridation as an effective way to prevent tooth decay.

Many of us and our children have had good dental care and have quick treatments for teeth that are starting to decay. However, across this world tooth decay is a common disease that affects many children especially those in poor families. Bad teeth can affect the ability to eat, how one looks, and cause severe pain. The treatment of tooth disease is also expensive.

An important issue about fluoride in our water is the concentration that is used. The World Health Organization recommends that our water contain 0.5 to 1.5 milligrams (mg) of fluoride in each liter (which is about 1.75 pints). In Humboldt County, the California Water Board reports that our levels range from 0.55 to 0.65 mg in each liter. So, we are well within the level recommended by international organizations.

Fluoride can do damage to humans if its concentration in water exceeds the limits recorded above. Small amounts over the recommended limits can result in dental fluorosis which results in white streaks on some teeth. However, if mistakes in water fluoridation occur that are high above the recommended limits, it can result in nausea, diarrhea and bone troubles. In 1992, part of Alaska was affected by fluoride concentrations as high as 220 mg/liter which is way above the concentration in Humboldt water. The Alaska incident resulted in 262 people becoming ill and one person died.

The presence of fluoride in toothpaste, mouthwash, salt and milk can help to prevent tooth decay. Could this be an alternative to having fluoride in our water? However, not all children or adults use these substances as they should. Putting low amounts of fluoride in our water is one way to ensure that all people will have some protection from tooth decay.

Do we need more science about the uses and consequences of fluoridated water? Yes! There are recent studies that show that concentrations of fluoride in drinking water that were four to five times higher than fluoride concentrations in Humboldt County water do affect the neural development of young children. A national and local argument is that there can often be an ethical conflict between what is good for lots of people and some folks’ rights to make their own choices about what goes into their bodies. I would continue to support the low level of fluoride in Humboldt’s water, and also argue for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation to support more research about the positive and low level effects of fluoride. Check this website for a long list of health care organizations that support fluoridation of drinking water:
https://ilikemyteeth.org/fluoridation/why-fluoride/

Rollin Richmond is an emeritus professor of biology and emeritus president at Humboldt State University. He has worked as an evolutionary geneticist at several universities during his career. (Full disclosure: He happens to be responsible for 50 percent of Times-Standard publisher John Richmond’s genetic makeup.) Questions or comments about this column can be sent to rollinr@humboldt.edu.

Australia - Letter | I've still got my concerns with the fluoride vote

RE: "Can group give answers?", letter, February 6.

I agree with Marjorie Armstrong, we elected our local Oberon Council, and should continue to give it our utmost support.

However, I dispute that it was a democratic decision to go ahead with the fluoridation of our water supply.

There have been some concerns over the way the survey was conducted and also the fact that many of the councillors live out of town and are not affected by their own decisions.

READ ALSO:Signs of frustration as the fluoride fight continues

While I believe the councillors believed they acted in the best interests of the Oberon people, the fact that they themselves were not affected means they should have abstained from voting on the issue.

Now fluoride is recognised as a toxic substance, and I have read in a health journal, just last week, that it inhibits the recovery of elderly cancer patients.

We are an ageing population, many of us succumbing to some type of cancer, and trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, and I believe we are betrayed by the very water we drink.

READ ALSO:Number crunch: Council challenged on fluoride survey and figures

READ ALSO:Letter | It's time to get on with fluoridation

Also, from the pages of the Reader's Digest, fluoride in tap water inhibits the absorption of magnesium and other essential elements.

Magnesium deficiency causes pregnancy problems, also can cause cramps, stress, inflamed joints, kidney and liver problems, diabetes and osteoporosis.

Also, children have access to fluoride in various products such as toothpaste, and don't need it to be added to tap water.

I believe fluoridation is a mistake and hope it is not too late for Oberon Council to reverse its decision.

Mike O'Brien, Oberon

Water Quality and the Gut Microbiome

...Some municipalities add fluoride (in the form of silicofluorides, by-products of manufacturing phosphate fertilizers) to tap water with the rationale of reducing tooth decay. Certainly, fluoride is beneficial when it makes prolonged contact with tooth surfaces, such as when we brush our teeth with fluoridated toothpaste. However, systemic fluoride (such as drinking fluoridated water) doesn’t not appear to exert much benefit to oral health. There have been large epidemiological studies demonstrating that fluoridation is not associated increased risk of cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid disease, Alzheimer’s disease, birth defects, or Down’s syndrome. But some studies have uncovered correlations between local water fluoride levels and lower IQ in children, leading to fears that fluoride, which can penetrate the blood-brain barrier in fetuses, negatively impacts early brain development. Fluoride also seems to accumulate in the pineal gland (the gland in our brain that secretes the sleep hormone melatonin) as we age, although the ramifications of this are unknown. Overall, more research is needed to clarify the risks and benefits of water fluoridation for both children and adults. And, its potential impact on the gut microbiome may provide a compelling reason to avoid fluoridated water........

Sinn Féin TD Réada Cronin’s ‘antisemitic’ tweets unacceptable, says party

A tweet in which a newly elected Sinn Féin TD said Israel had taken “Nazism to a new level” was “not acceptable”, Pearse Doherty has said.

Since the general election a number of tweets by Réada Cronin have resurfaced in which she expressed controversial views, such as describing fluoridation of water as poisoning. She used words such as “bitch” and “whore” to describe people.

Some of the tweets were made in 2012 and 2015, but others were made as recently as last year. Ms Cronin has apologised.

Mr Doherty, who is leading the party’s negotiations on forming a government, said: “She made some of those comments before she was even a member of Sinn Féin. I also understand that she has unreservedly withdrawn those comments

Study: Fluoride good for teeth, but over-exposure may damage enamel

Fluoride helps prevent tooth day — but too much of it can actually negatively affect oral hygiene, a new analysis has suggested.

In findings published in Science Signaling, researchers have expanded their understanding of how a condition called fluorosis develops, upi.com reported.

Fluorosis, or over-exposure to fluoride in childhood, can result in damage to tooth enamel, the coating that protects teeth from chemicals in food and drinks that cause decay and, ultimately, cavities.

In general, the risk for fluoride over-exposure in the United States "is low because water fluoridation is controlled and in some regions is in fact de-fluoridated because the naturally available water can contain high levels of fluoride," study coauthor Rodrigo Lacruz, associate professor of basic science and craniofacial biology at New York University College of Dentistry, told UPI.

He added, however, that "consumers should make sure they follow the recommendations established by health organizations and dental professionals because when used under these guidelines, fluoride has many positive effects."

Fluoride, often a main ingredient in toothpastes, works to prevent cavities by promoting "mineralization" — which causes the residual chemicals in food and drinks that remain on teeth to break down, preventing decay — and making the enamel on teeth more resistant to acid.

As Lacruz noted, the mineral is added to drinking water in the United States and elsewhere, but usually at controlled levels — typically targeted to 0.7 milligrams per liter, as recommended by the federal Public Health Service.

While low levels of fluoride are beneficial, too much of the mineral can cause fluorosis, a discoloring — usually yellowing — of the tooth enamel. The condition occurs when children between birth and around nine years of age — the age at which teeth are forming — are exposed to high levels fluoride.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in four Americans between six and 49 years of age has some degree of fluorosis.

Lacruz and his colleagues analyzed the effects of exposing tooth enamel cells taken from rodents to fluoride at levels on the higher end of the range found in most American drinking water — 1.2 milligrams per liter and above. The levels they used matched those found in areas where fluorosis is more common.

In general, the researchers report that exposing enamel cells to higher amounts of fluoride disrupted their ability to take in and store calcium, which is necessary to strengthen teeth and bones. The researchers also noted that excessive fluoride slows the development of enamel cells, adversely affecting enamel's ability to rejuvenate and strengthen itself.

The researchers repeated their experiment using early-stage kidney cells from humans, but they did not observe the same effects when kidney cells were exposed to fluoride. This indicates that enamel cells are different from cells forming tissue in other parts of the body, they said.

"More research should be encouraged on how dental enamel cells handle high fluoride and how do they differ from other cells of the body in coping with the stresses imposed by fluoride as fluoridation is so common," Lacruz said.

In the meantime, he added, "parents should monitor the amount of fluoridated toothpaste used by young children and not let them swallow toothpaste when brushing teeth. Dispensing toothpaste in a transverse fashion rather than along the length of the toothbrush helps, but a pea size amount of toothpaste is what should be aimed for in children."

Oral Health Foundation supports drive from NHS England to widen water fluoridation

The Oral Health Foundation is calling on the Government to act after a renewed push for community water fluoridation by NHS England and the Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) network.

The Oral Health Foundation, along with the wider CWF network, believe that community water fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure to improving the oral health of children and tackle oral inequality among disadvantaged communities.

Currently, only six million Brits are supplied with fluoridated water and some 300,000 are supplied with water with naturally occurring fluoride present. This accounts for less than 10% of the population and is not enough to bring about change to the alarming rates of tooth decay and tooth extractions amongst children.

Tooth extraction remains the number one reason for hospital admissions of five-to-nine year olds in the UK while one in seven children under the age of three years old have tooth decay.  Fluoridating water supplies would not completely solve this problem, but it would make a significant impact in turning the tide on children’s oral health.

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, believes that community water fluoridation could save millions of children from a lifetime of dental pain and suffering.

Dr Carter says: ‘We’re delighted that NHS England and the Community Water Fluoridation network, along with several MPs, are raising the issue of water fluoridation again.  The addition of fluoride to water has been researched for over 60 years, and has been proven to reduce decay by 40-to-60%.

We hope that more Local Authorities and the Central Government will get on board with water fluoridation and would love to see a future where everyone in the United Kingdom can benefit from it. We wait in anticipation for progress to be made towards that goal but while we do, we would encourage everyone to brush their teeth with a fluoridate toothpaste. This give your teeth the boost of fluoride that they needs.’

For more information on the benefits of fluoride for oral health please visit our A – Z of Oral Health Information.

They would support it wouldn't they

Study reveals how too much fluoride causes defects in tooth enamel

Exposing teeth to excessive fluoride alters calcium signaling, mitochondrial function, and gene expression in the cells forming tooth enamel—a novel explanation for how dental fluorosis, a condition caused by overexposure to fluoride during childhood, arises. The study, led by researchers at NYU College of Dentistry, is published in Science Signaling.....

US - Guest Post: Fluoride in our water; it’s not just about our teeth (Part 1)

RANGELY I In April, Rangely voters will vote on fluoridation of our drinking water to continue or to stop it.

Our message is simple from proved sources, fluoride prevents tooth decay when applied topically; fluoride is toxic to our physical health when ingested. It’s about awareness to facts/truth/proved studies, “drinking” Fluoride does not reduce tooth decay, and it is toxic and causes physical disease. Our information is from Fluoride Alert, Wikipedia and other sources as provided (https://fluoridealert.org/issues/sources/). Educate yourselves on truth and vote no for fluoride in our drinking water.

Questions:

• What is the body composition of fluorine? Our body is composed of minute amounts of fluorine, a gas, <1% (chart), 0.0026 (mass), 0.0012 (atomic %), is toxic in high amounts; and doesn’t have an essential biological role.

• Where does fluoride come from? Fluoride is a naturally occurring element in soil, water and foods; it can be produced synthetically. “Fluoride is not a nutrient.” Fluoride or Fluosilicic Acid (hydrogen fluoride and phosphoric acid) is the toxic chemical, a byproduct of fertilizer plants. Originally the fertilizer plants discharged this acid into the air and waterways, causing air pollution and killing the fish. After litigation, wet scrubber plants were installed capturing the chemical toxins; this toxin or byproduct is now sold to fluoridate our drinking water (https://fluoridealert.org/issues/water/fluoridation-chemicals/)

• Who controls Fluoride in drinking water? The EPA sets the safe levels in drinking water, (.07 – 1.9%). Levels can be difficult to control as waters can have natural fluoride already.  *Dr. William Hirzy, Senior VP of EPA’s headquarters stated, “If this stuff gets into the air, it’s a pollutant, if it gets into the river, it’s a pollutant; if it gets into the lake it’s a pollutant; but if it goes right into your drinking water system, it’s not a pollutant…  There’s got to be a better way to manage this stuff.” (See video of Dr. H and other videos on fluoride at http://fluoridealert.org/fan-tv/hirzy/)

Bottom line: It’s not safe to fluoridate drinking water — vote no!

We encourage you to do your own research — ask questions in your favorite browser: Is fluoride toxic? How do I avoid fluoride in beverages and food? How do I reduce fluoride exposure? Several sources speak to fluoride being toxic as a poison to our bodies: PoisonPace.com/Fluoride, Fluoride Action Network, Mercola – Take Charge of Your Health, Fluoride Toxicity from Wikipedia, Global Healing Center. The book “The Fluoride Deception” by Christopher Bryson is interesting reading… Educate yourselves for health!

By Elaine Urie and Lisa Hatch
Special to the Herald Times

From Ann

Dear Ann,

I listen to LBC (London Broadcasting Co.) Radio.  I don’t like James O’Brien, one of the phone-in presenters, so today, at 12.45pm, I switched him off & decided never to listen to him again.  He was mocking people who “used to” think that adding fluoride to the water supply was dangerous (as if nobody alive thinks like that anymore). 

James O’Brien only takes calls from listeners who think like he does.  I don’t think that such blinkered intolerance should be allowed on a phone-in.  There was one caller, once, who disagreed with him on an issue & James O’Brien sounded shocked & asked: “How did you get onto my programme?”  The caller explained that he pretended to have a different viewpoint to the one that he gave now, because he knew that otherwise he would be screened out.  It’s James O’Brien’s mocking, smirking tone & his endless monologues that I find really annoying.    I thought you’d be interested to know that James O’Brien is promoting adding fluoride to the water supply.  The discussion was mainly about the MMR vaccination & autism, and his fluoride remarks were just incidental.

Best wishes, Patsy

Health chiefs plan 'myth-buster' over plans to extend fluoridation of water supply in Northumberland

Health chiefs are set to develop a ‘myth-buster’ ahead of consultation on plans to extend the fluoridation of Northumberland’s water supply to tackle tooth decay.

A map showing the areas of Northumberland covered by the existing fluoridation scheme (in blue) and one showing the areas proposed to be covered by the extension (in green). Picture from Northumberland County Council

In October, the county council’s cabinet agreed to consult the Health Secretary, following confirmation from Northumbrian Water the proposal put forward to vary the county’s current fluoridation scheme is ‘operable, efficient and technically possible to implement’.

An update to a meeting of the council’s health and wellbeing board revealed that the Secretary of State’s consent to proceed has been received and an ‘active listening exercise’ is to start next week, ahead of a full public consultation later this year.

Community water fluoridation ensures that, where the natural fluoride concentration is too low to provide dental health benefits, it is raised to and maintained at the optimal level of one part per million, or one milligram per litre.

However, despite a wide body of scientific and medical evidence, water fluoridation is the focus of vociferous opponents, with Coun Wayne Daley referring to emails containing ‘fake news’, such as it being a deliberate attempt to make people ‘lethargic and obese’.

He called for a myth-buster to be produced as part of the engagement with the public, with health representatives on the board, such as GP Dr Jane Lothian and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Claire Riley, agreeing a single, simple message was needed.

Liz Morgan, the council’s director of public health, said: “The view of organisations from the World Health Organisation down to the local dental committee is that water fluoridation is safe and effective.”

Northumberland’s current scheme covers areas in the former Alnwick district as well as in the west of the county. Further north is part of the existing scheme, but has not been receiving fluoridated water since the mid-2000s due to infrastructure failure; its restoration is being progressed by Public Health England.

Therefore some of Northumberland’s least-deprived communities are receiving fluoridated water, while some of the most deprived are not, with oral health an area where ‘inequalities are really quite profound’.

The proposed extension would cover an area in the south-east of the county, from Blyth out to Bedlington and Morpeth and up the coast to Amble.

The scheme would more than double the number of Northumberland’s households which have fluoridated water, leaving just 4.2% – or around 14,500 residents – without.

In the North East, the lowest rates of dental decay in children are found in areas with fluoridated water, whether natural or artificial, because fluoride increases teeth’s resistance against the effects of sugar.

A Public Health England study also showed every £1 invested in water fluoridation brings a £12.71 return after five years, far higher than other programmes like fluoride varnishing or posting/handing out toothbrushes and toothpaste.

The capital costs of the proposed extension, for the plant and equipment etc, is around £2.15million, which would fall to the Department of Health and Social Care. The annual running costs would be between £85,000 and £110,000 (although possibly up to £182,000) and would be covered by the county council’s existing public health grant.