Fluoride. Friend or Foe?

 

If you knew someone gave you a “drug” without your consent would you be angry?

 

What if you found out that this “drug” could potentially cause abnormal health outcomes?

And what if you found out you have been taking this “drug” for most of your life?

Well for those of you that have not been drinking your water from a well that is exactly what has been happening. The fluoride that is put into our water supply is supposed to prevent tooth decay.

It is considered a medical treatment and it is being administered to us without our consent. According to The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) there are numerous health risks associated with fluoride exposure.

 

This makes me very angry!

 

The CDC and the American Dental Association highlight the benefits of fluoridated water in relation to decreasing the level of cavities in our children.

But is it the fluoridated water that should be credited or is it the increase in fluoridated products on the market and the availability of dental care to lower-income populations?

Topically, fluoride is very effective in reducing cavities but ingesting it has little effect according to the Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health

I personally don’t think that I should have to ingest something that carries a warning label as a toxic substance to protect those that don’t brush their teeth.

Don’t get me wrong I do think we need to protect our children but the studies around the effects of cognitive development in children make me question if we are doing the right thing for these kids.

“In a meta-analysis, researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and China Medical University in Shenyang for the first time combined 27 studies and found strong indications that fluoride may adversely affect cognitive development in children.” Check it out.

There are just as many studies that demonstrate the benefits of fluoride in the water in decreasing the rate of cavities in children.

My concern is the health risks to the fetus in utero, those that have renal insufficiency, the effects on a children’s neuro and cognitive development, increased risk of fractures, and in general the overall long-term effects.

“In 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a recommendation for the optimal fluoride level that should be in drinking water to prevent tooth decay.

This new recommendation is for a single level of 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water, as opposed to the 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter recommendation issued in 1962, which is now the standard.”

I guess if there is one message I would like to deliver it is that you are being administered a “drug” and there are risks as well as benefits.

You may choose to continue to ingest fluoride but if you wish to prevent or at least decrease your exposure to fluoride there are things you can do.

Your standard water filter like Brita or Pur will not remove fluoride. Boiling or freezing will not take fluoride out and may actually make it more concentrated. There are 3 techniques you can implement:

1. Purchase a filter. There are special types that are designed to remove fluoride. We bought ours from Pure Water Freedom and hubby installed it.

 

 

Pure Water Freedom

2. Purchase bottled water. Beware though many brands do contain some fluoride so you want to ensure it has less than 0.2 ppm. Check here for a list of brands that are fluoride-free.

3. Water distillation – A distillation unit will remove most, if not all, of the fluoride. These units depending on size can cost as little as $200 and can run in excess of $1,000. This system is rated quite well on Amazon and costs under $250.

I am lucky my husband is handy and he installed a unit that was relatively inexpensive and now I feel much better knowing that I am fluoride free (except for my toothpaste that is).