http://www.care2.com/greenliving/open-wide-and-take-your-fluoride.html
Open Wide and Take Your Fluoride?
From time to time over the years, I’ve heard people going on about the dangers of fluoride in the water–from obscure health risks to government conspiracies intended to keep the population compliant. I have always dismissed these as wild, paranoid theories; after all, the CDC has listed fluoride in the water as one of the greatest health innovations of the 20th century.
My facile dismissal of the issue may also have had something to do with the funny scene in the movie “Dr. Strangelove” in which General Jack D. Ripper says that fluoride in the water is an “international communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.” That’s probably the best way to defuse concerns about government policy: Make the people who question or oppose it look like goofball nutcases.
Recently, however, I decided to actually look up the data on fluoridation and see what was there. I was surprised to find that the benefits of fluoridated water are not so clear cut as we’ve been led to believe. The studies used to support fluoridation are not as high-quality as they might be, and the risks (mottling of the teeth) are not negligible. Mass fluoridation of the water supply may have prevented some cavities, maybe even enough to justify the CDC’s bold proclamation. On the other hand, better nutrition, better toothbrushes, and more emphasis on dental hygiene may be responsible.
The most common and established side-effect of fluoride is mottling of the teeth. The risks are increased because fluoride is not only in the water, but in any food or drink made with water. We don’t always know how much we are getting.
My survey of the fluoride situation didn’t raise serious alarms, however. The risk/benefit ratio may not be all that impressive, but the harms don’t seem that bad, either. My children drank fluoridated water throughout their childhoods–and lots of it–and their teeth seem fine and neither has had a cavity. However, after looking over the issue, it does seem strange that a society would medicate a large portion of the population (not all water systems are fluoridated and not all citizens are on municipal water) through the water supply–especially when the benefits of the “treatment” are weak.
In 2000, Douglas Carnall, editor of the British Medical Journal, wrote, “Professionals who propose compulsory preventive measures for a whole population have a different weight of responsibility on their shoulders than those who respond to the requests of individuals for help. Previously neutral on the issue, I am now persuaded by the arguments that those who wish to take fluoride (like me) had better get it from toothpaste rather than the water supply.”
Whatever fluoride does or does not do, it seems not to have made Dr. Carnall too compliant.
Fluoride, however, may be small beer when it comes to compulsory medication: Stay tuned for more on folate in your cereal.
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17 comments
add your comment »Hi Eve M.
First and important: Thank you so much for your curiosity, interst,humanity and following up my comments.
Second: I feel sorry as I caused truble to you and to be so nervous which came out due to your curiosity as I understood...you have the right to all of that.
Now be relax and ease and think of what I am going to say:
It seems you and may be other missunderstood me and the message I tried to send or I couldnot explain my self clearly and my comment might be not clear enough to be understood... so that I am sorry as I troubled you in the comment on floride.
Hi Eve M.
I never said and will never say that it is safe to take floride and it is not risky.
I admite that it is unsafe and has risks on humans again floride is unsafe and risky on bones teeth muscles....etc if taken extra.
What I tried to say (in details) is that our water is impure and we use (buy) filtered water (for drinking, cooking). we use tooth past for brushing our teeth with floride> then later said any substance taken much is harm, cause disease not just risk...taking the required amount I believe will not harm...
Hi Eve M.
Again I feel so sorry for causing you trouble and I hope you understood me now.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
friendsofwater
i approached this discussion with an open mind. that's why i looked all all the links you've posted. i take this issue very seriously.
and you have been lying. i'm sorry to have to state that so plainly, but when you tell people something without even checking to see if it's true, multiple times, you are doing exactly what glenn beck does.
i am not questioning your motives, but if you say something untrue on a public forum, it should not stand, should it?
hi abo,
i encourage you to read as much as you can about this subject! i am not here to change anyone's mind. if anyone was saying fluoride made you live 10 years longer, i would check that claim too. i just can't stand watching paranoia and fear spread without reason.
have a peaceful, joyous weekend everybody!
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Friendsof Water
THank you for your comment sent .
I agree that the issue of flourid needs discussion and what I mentioned in my first comment that:
Thanks we drink filtered water and brush our teeth with past with flourid for 2 reasons our water is impure and salty,and we donot take much flourid
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Eve M.
First thanks for your comment.
Second I agree with you that there are researches speeks about Floride risk but still it is a research , No one deny that it has a risk but also has its benifits when a substance will benifit and when it will be risky this is the cors question...?
when a person take an excess ( more than to a certain point" too much" ) the substance will harm and cause a disease not just being risk ,and the opposite if its amount is less than the requirement( too little" not enough ")it will cause troubles too which should supply with supplements to overcome.
So taking just the required amount I believe will not harm...
Thanks
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
First thanks for your comment.
Second I agree with you that there are researches speeks about Floride risk but still it is a research , No one deny that it has a risk but also has its benifits when a substance will benifit and when it will be risky this is the cors question...?
when a person take an excess ( more than to a certain point" too much" ) the substance will harm and cause a disease not just being risk ,and the opposite if its amount is less than the requirement( too little" not enough ")it will cause troubles too which should supply with supplements to overcome.
So taking just the required amount I believe will not harm...
Thanks
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
To answer your question Eve... I wrote this prior to our discussion in which I clearly stated, in answer to another of your questions, that it was my impression that there are more studies showing risk in ingesting fluoride than benefits.
As several have now expressed, the bigger issue is that water fluoridation is medicating people who don't need or want it. The fact that there are studies showing the risks of that, combined with the fact that there IS fluoride in food, toothpaste and drinks, simply shore up the point that this is an invasion of people's rights. That some others may benefit does not justify it.
And I suggest that we all engage in discussion without questioning each others motives.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
@ friendsofwater
"There is a lot of scientific research showing the risks of fluoride. More than there is showing any benefit (contrary to the oft-repeated claim otherwise)."
this is the second time you've claimed this, though you admitted earlier that you did not actually know it for a fact.
"I'm not aware of anyone counting the studies about fluoride."
* Friendsof Water says
* Dec 4, 2009 11:01 AM
sincerely, why do you do that?
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Something too think about....
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Are there any 'good' tasting non-fluoride toothpastes? I can stand the taste of them but my 3 year old hates them and the last thing i want to do is for him to think that brushing his teeth is disgusting.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Thanks a lot we use filtered water and brush our teeth with past with flourid for 2 reasons our water impure and salty,and not to take much flourid.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
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