US Report Reveals 22 Years of Effort and Fluoridation Failed to Improve Oral Health

 Mon, January 24, 2022, 1:39 PM·2 min read

NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite increases in public water fluoridation, dental visits, sealants, fluoride varnish applications, and significant financial, training, and program investments, oral health hasn't improved in 22 years, according to a National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Oral Health in America Report (December 2021), reports the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. (NYSCOF).

"America's shockingly poor dental system, poverty and poor diets are to blame," says attorney Paul Beeber, NYSCOF President.

Millions of Americans can't access dental care, while 70% of US children and adolescents are fluoride-overdosed, afflicted with fluorosis (permanently discolored teeth).

"It's obvious that American's need dental care; not fluoride or other band-aid fixes," says Beeber.

NIDCR reports little improvement since the 2000 US Surgeon General's Oral Health report revealed "a silent epidemic" and its now-failed Call to Action "to eliminate oral health disparities."

For example, the NIDCR reports:

• The military continues to face challenges in meeting recruitment goals and military readiness because of oral health-related issues.

• Untreated cavities among the poor remain twice that of non-poor. Disparities persist by race/ethnicity status.

• Primary tooth decay increased in boys aged 6-11 and didn't change in adolescents' and adults' permanent teeth.

• Untreated decay in permanent teeth shows no progress.

• In ages 2-11, decayed tooth surfaces increased with a greater impact on boys

• Four out of 5 Americans aged 6 years and older experience cavities, irrespective of poverty or race/ethnicity status.

• 40% of children have eroded teeth.

NIDCR cherrypicked Carstairs 2015 to claim "fluoridation achieved wide success in the mid-20th century for primary prevention of dental caries" but left out her fluoridation criticism in the same paper. She wrote: "some of the early fluoridation studies had methodological problems which may have exaggerated their benefits" and "there are still questions about how effective water fluoridation is at preventing dental decay and whether the possible risks are worth the benefits."