Pros And Cons Of Fluoride In Public Water

Visiting a dentist, in most cases, is not exactly an event that someone looks forward to. Oral hygiene is important in making sure that no problems arise for teeth, however, and the issue of unhealthy teeth has been combatted by advertisements, and more recently, the additive of fluoride into tap water. Fluoride has been important in the process of improving the dental health of Americans; after the addition of fluoride into tap water, tooth decay decreased drastically among Americans and most significantly among young children. It’s argued, however, that fluoride is dangerous, not required, and a violation of someone 's rights by being added to water. In reality, fluoride is a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay by being added

The history of fluoride dates back to the 1940’s when an experiment was conducted in four major cities in the United States to see if water fluoridation would help the communities with dental cavities. This study states that “Over a ten year period of fluoridation, the incidence of cavities in each city was cut in half. The beneficial effect of fluoride was not dependent on the source of the fluoride” (Fallon 2006 pg. 2). The benefits of fluoride are great because if a person takes in some fluoride over a period of time there will be less cavities and he/she will have stronger teeth. Arkansas Dental Hygiene Association states, “Community water fluoridation is an effective, safe, and inexpensive way to prevent tooth decay. Fluoridation benefits Americans of all ages and socioeconomic status.” It has been proven that the use of fluoride dental products can effectively prevent tooth decay in

There is a great deal of debate about the effectiveness and the safety of fluoride, especially in the form of water fluoridation. The purpose of this paper is to provide us with information needed to make an informed decision about fluoride. Fluoridation is the addition of small amounts of fluoride to public water supplies. It is a kind of mass medication and the only chemical added to water in measures over that of naturally occurring water. Actually, fluoride is a chemical element that has shown to cause significant effect on human health through drinking water. In small amount this chemical does not have any significant negative effects on our body, but over consumption of it is poisonous and in severe cases can prove deadly. Some countries

This article is based on the negative and positive impacts of fluoride uses. Topics discussed include: updates on community water fluoridation, fluoride available in dentifrices, and fluoride varnish, use and recommendations. Fluoride is the first line of defense, along with education, for preventing caries. Fluoride is the only compound recognized by the FDA for the prevention of dental caries (Carey, 2014). Fluoride comes primarily from fluoridated community water, toothpastes, and mouth rinses. The intake of water and processed beverages in the United States provides about 75% of a person’s fluoride intake (Carey, 2014).

The same process that adds fluoride to the teeth also adds fluoride to the bones of individuals that ingest the fluoride. This process is cumulative over a lifetime and may not result in any harmful effects if fluoride consumption throughout life is a relatively low. The addition of fluoride to bones, however, does weaken them slowly. If fluoride absorption is high over a person’s life span he or she may experience weaker than normal bones in old age (National Research Council, 2006). This would increase the risk of bone fractures in elderly people beyond the rate at which they already occur. If this problem could be prevented by discontinuing community water fluoridation it would definitely be worth it. Skeletal fluorosis, as damaging as it is, may not be the worst effect of drinking fluoridated

Fluoride is a natural occurring element found abundantly in the Earth’s crust. It is widely distributed in the lithosphere and is the 13th most common element in the earth’s crust (Lennon et al., 2004, pg. 2). It is found in seawater at a concentrations between 1.2–1.4 mg/L, in groundwater at concentrations up to 67 mg/L, and in most surface waters at concentrations below 0.1 mg/L (IPCS, 2002). While all foods contain traces of fluoride, water and non-dairy beverages are the main sources of ingested fluoride; concentrations of fluoride in public drinking water accounts for 66 to 80% of fluoride intake in the United States (IPCS, 2002).

Since the implementation of artificially introducing fluoride into water, a great amount of resistance has taken place. Many people claim that fluoridating community water sources can cause not only dental fluorosis, but a multitude of adverse systemic conditions. This perception has led to many political battles on the subject. The problems associated with fluoride ingestion tend to present when concentrations are higher that generally accepted. In communities with natural high fluoride concentrations, adverse effects have range from dental and skeletal fluorosis to decreased birth rates, increased kidney stones, impaired thyroid function, and lower intelligence (Chen, 2013, p. 1). These tend to be the concerns of the opposition to

In 2007, a study of human health in relation to water fluoridation was reviewed again only to confirm that when fluoridation is maintained at optimal levels, it is safe and beneficial. There was no clear evidence of the association of water fluoridation and

Plaque that builds up on teeth naturally produces acids that break down the tooth enamel, leaving teeth open to bacteria that cause decay. Fluoride helps to reverse this process and can help to repair the enamel on the teeth of your loved one. Seniors have a higher likelihood of developing tooth decay, due to loss of saliva production and loss of dexterity, which can make brushing and flossing difficult. Drinking fluoridated water is a simple way to get fluoride to the teeth, preventing or slowing down tooth decay.

On top of naturally occurring fluoride, there is also man-made fluoride manufactured in laboratories and it’s this that’s added to toothpaste, mouthwashes and more importantly our drinking water. Water authorities add this manufactured fluoride to our tap water under the pretense that it reduces tooth decay. Way back in the 1930’s, scientists found that any given population would benefit from two thirds fewer cavities if they were brought up in areas with naturally fluoridated water. This was in comparison to those living within areas where the water wasn’t

fluoridation, the price of treating tooth decay would be about $117. Fluoridation in larger communities containing 1,000 to 3,000 people showed that ‘dental cost savings exceeded fluoridation costs’, and the annual saving per person ranged between $15.95 and $18.62. Communities with a population size of about 800-900 showed that the ‘cost of fluoridation was equal to the dental cost savings’ while smaller communities did not save on costs unless there was a reduction in tooth decay. Other sources of fluoride include mouthwash, toothpaste and fluoride tablets. Fluoride tablets are less beneficial than fluoridated water in the fact that across a long period of time, they are less cost-effective, have to be taken everyday but only last for three hours and provide less fluoride than fluoridated water. From a solely economic view, water fluoridation is the most cost effective way of lowering tooth decay in communities.

When fluoride is applied directly to the teeth, it incorporates into the outer layer of enamel, making it harder and more resistance to bacterial “acid attacks” that cause tooth decay. In addition, topical fluoride can help stop early decay by remineralizing and repairing enamel.

Water fluoridation reaches more than 6% of the world's population, but it is highly controversial. Concerns revolve around the fact that fluoride is actually moderately toxic (pure fluorine is highly toxic and lethal), and long-term exposure to large amounts of the chemical causes numerous health problems (most notably, aberrant bone formation). Scientific consensus is that this compound can be added to public water supplies without posing risks to human health as long as it doesn't exceed a strict concentration level (1.5 mg/L according to the WHO). Nevertheless, numerous health and human right institutions vouch for the end of water fluoridation on the grounds that the risks to human health haven't been appropriately studied. Improper water treatment in Asian and African countries, where the concentration of fluoride in some natural water supplies vastly exceeds safety levels, results in millions of fluoride poisoning

The above research presents common dangers associated with fluoride; however, the research methods are not reflective of actual fluoride use in the general population. For instance, Xiong’s research used excessive amounts of fluoride on test subjects, ranging from 2.15-2.96mg/L and 3.15-5.69mg/L (Xiong et al. 4). In comparison, the past fluoride level in Calgary’s water system was limited to an optimal level of 0.7mg/L (City of Calgary, par. 5). Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Oral Health stated, “to date, there no scientific evidence that exposure to fluoride at the levels found in optimally fluoridated water present any risk for the development of any disease processes” (University of Toronto 56). Therefore, Xiong’s research is at fault because the fluoride levels tested were not reflective of actual fluoride concentrations used in cities.

The state of Washington is now mandating fluoride be maintained in all public drinking water sources. Washington state Department of Health states that a mandated fluoridated water policy would be the most effective method to combat oral health diseases and that it is a proven technique. The Washington State board of health has adopted the recommendation from the federal Department of Health and Human Services to produce a rule for public drinking water to maintain fluoride levels of 0.7ml/L (Washington State Department of Health, 2017). All of Washington state’s water supply is naturally fluoridated. Even though all water sources have fluoride in Washington, the fluoride levels are not equal. These natural fluoride