Is It Okay To Drink Water With Fluoride In It?

Fluoride is a natural mineral that is released from rocks into the water, the soil, and even the air. All forms of water contain a certain level of fluoride. The level in water is minimal and therefore not able to prevent tooth decay. There are areas such as groundwater and natural springs that actually do have higher levels of fluoride.

Public water or community water is treated for the level of fluoride in the water.

The treatment can raise the level to recommended standards for preventing tooth decay.

In 1931, according to H.V. Churchill, Chief Chemist working in an American mining company, said people who drink water with high levels of fluoride will probably not have cavities. This is probably why fluoride became an important element in mouthwash and toothpaste, approximately 10 years later.

In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan started the fluoridation process in water. The news spread throughout communities when it was discovered fluoride prevented cavities, especially in children. On the other hand, there was no proof fluoride worked against cavities in adults.

Later on, the Cochrane report was released marking a critical juncture for the use of fluoridated water. According to this report, several studies suggested fluoridated water provided healthy benefits but ended up not being true. These various reports did not provide information on why other products with fluoride such as toothpaste and mouthwash should be trusted but not processed fluoridated water?

Different discrepancies led to extensive research to answer why consuming large levels of fluoride could actually be harmful to one’s health. There has been evidence and even more concerns regarding what’s involved in the consumption of fluoride and whether it’s good for you or bad for you. Let’s take a closer look.

One of the best ways to prevent tooth decay in children is fluoride in water. One study said children that live in communities without fluoridated water ran a 3 times greater risk of getting tooth decay and end up undergoing dental surgery.

Studies have shown that fluoride in public water prevents around 25% of tooth decay among children and adults alike, even while using toothpaste. Fluoride is also available in several other sources. Fluoride seems to be nature’s fighter against cavities.

For over 70 years, science has provided proof that shows community water that is fluoridated is a safe and effective way to combat tooth decay and cavities. It has been backed by many prominent organizations because they know the health benefits of fluoridated water in preventing tooth decay including the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the American Dental Association.

When it comes to the cost, not just people who have dental issues but the entire community pays for it with their health insurance and even with their taxes. On the other hand, the lifetime cost for each person having fluoridated water is less expensive than one tooth being filled.

Fluoride is a natural element in groundwater and in the oceans. Water fluoridation is a simple process of adjusting fluoride to the recommended level to prevent tooth decay. It’s actually quite similar to fortifying foods and beverages such as salt with iodine, milk with vitamin D, calcium in orange juice, and bread with folic acid.

If you have questions or concerns about fluoride, contact your dentist, physician, or pediatrician. Then decide if fluoride is for you or not.

Too much exposure to fluoride has led to several health issues including Dental Fluorosis. This is a condition that changes the appearance of tooth enamel, especially among children who are 8 years of age or younger while their teeth are still developing and they are constantly drinking water with high levels of fluoride. The fluoride level should be 0.7 ppm for good dental health. 4.0 ppm can lead to issues. Fluoride does not affect the health of teeth but can cause discoloration to the enamel.

Breastfeeding infants or making a formula with water that is minus fluoride can protect small children from fluorosis.

Children under 6 years of age should not use a mouthwash with fluoride and should be monitored when brushing their teeth and not allowed to swallow the toothpaste. There are several other issues caused by fluoride including:

Too much exposure to fluoride can cause a bone disease known as skeletal fluorosis. Over time, it will cause pain and damage to bones and joints. Your bones might harden, increasing the risk of fractures. If the bones thicken and tissue accumulates, it can lead to impaired joint mobility.

Too much fluoride can damage the parathyroid gland. The gland sits behind the thyroid glands in your neck. It produces parathyroid hormones which increase levels of calcium in your blood. It can cause hyperparathyroidism which is the uncontrolled secretion of parathyroid hormones. In turn, this can lead to a depletion of calcium in bones and higher abnormal concentration levels of calcium in the blood. Adding to that, lower concentrations of calcium in bones will make your bones more vulnerable to fractures.

A report published in 2017. stated that exposure to fluoride before birth can lead to poor cognitive issues in the future.

Researchers studied the levels of fluoride in 299 women during pregnancy andtheir children between 6 and 12 years of age. Their cognitive abilities at a6 to12 were also tested. The higher the fluoride level seemed to cause lower IQ scores.

In 2014, fluoride was classified as a neurotoxin that could be dangerous for children during their developing years along with 10 other industrial chemicals including lead, arsenic, toluene, and methylmercury.