Fluoride- Helpful or Harmful?

I have recently come to question why our drinking water is treated with fluoride. I had really never thought much about it, but as I began to research toothpastes, I began reading why fluoride is quite dangerous if swallowed.

What you are putting on your toothbrush could affect more than just cavities.

Here are some interesting facts I learned about fluoride:

Fluoride in our water systems is created from the byproducts of aluminum and fertilizer manufacturing. This type of fluoride contains heavy metals and toxins such as arsenic, lead, and chromium.
This type of fluoride had not been FDA approved.
Fluoride is not used to treat drinking water for safe consumption, and it is the only chemical added to water to treat the individuals consuming it.
A recent study showed that in 40,000 children, there was no difference in dental decay among fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities, although the fluoridated communities often have fluorosis (change in appearance of the teeth due to overuse of fluoride disrupting the enamel formation during early childhood).
Fluoride accumulates in the brain and can contribute to disease. Fluoride is an endocrine disruptor and can lead to reduction of thyroid activity, diminish bone strength, lead to fluoride toxicity in people with kidney disease, and pose a risk for bone cancer in males under age 20.
Fluoride is found in many foods. For a list of foods and amounts, see this page. Because fluoride is already found in foods and beverages, adding it to drinking water can create an overabundance of fluoride in the body.
Fluoride is an effective anti-thyroid medication. Fluoride can be used to treat HYPERthyroidism, and the use of fluoride in water may account for the dramatic increase in HYPOthyroidism in this country. Almost all of the 150+ symptoms of hypothyroidism are also found in fluoride poisoning.
From about.com “In areas where the drinking water already contains fluoride, brushing more than once daily with more than a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste can cause fluorosis, the discoloration and spotting of the teeth that affects an estimated 20% of children. “

We have our dental exams next week, and it will be my youngest son’s first trip. You can bet I will be asking for the fluoride free polish and by-passing the optional fluoride treatment for my kids.

Tomorrow I will share a really awesome fuoride-free toothpaste that I found and LOVE. My mouth has that after dentist feeling after each use!

Sources:

http://naturaldentistry.us/1378/the-dangers-of-fluoride/

http://www.fluoridedebate.com/index.html

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/toxicchemicalsan/a/flouride.htm