Photography by: Aaron Harcourt
Article by: Wes Harcourt
Recently there has been news about fluoride in water and toothpaste and we thought that a consolidation of that information and some of our thoughts would be worth reading. We have compiled a brief history of the use of fluoride, the controversy around the use of fluoride and some recent. Have a read and let us know your thoughts and experiences.
Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Brief History
Fluoride has been in use in North American water systems since the 1940’s. It was introduced after studies were done on children in a region where higher levels of fluoride occur naturally in the water. A discovery was made by the researchers that moderate fluoridation prevented cavities. The result of this research encouraged many regions to add fluoride to drinking water so that people, especially children and children of the poor would benefit from this additive. You must be wondering how Fluoride in the water prevents cavities?
How Fluoridated Water Works
Drinking fluorinated water causes low levels of fluoride to mix with the saliva in the mouth. This fluorinated saliva prevents demineralization of the enamel of the teeth and helps teeth re-mineralize during the early stages to tooth decay. It is estimated that an 18–40% reduction in cavities is achieved when water fluorination is used by children who already had access to toothpaste. Fluoride in water is not the only source of this additive.
Fluoride in Toothpaste
Fluoride was introduced into toothpaste in the 1970s as the compound Sodium Fluoride. Since that time there has been a significant reduction of cavities in children and adults both in North America and Europe. To make things a little interesting the most recent studies show that the reduction in cavities has occurred despite water being fluorinated or not. This ineffective aspect of ingesting fluoride is not the only problem.
The Trouble with Fluoridated Water
Opposition to fluoridation has existed since its initiation in the 1940s. The main issue has been the ethics of the practice. Opponents say that fluorinating water violates the rights of those who need access to municipal water systems. There are direct implications to using fluoride in the water supplies as well. Dental fluorosis, or mottled teeth, has been directly linked to fluoride in the water supply. Dental fluorosis is the malformation of developing teeth. These have been the only concern until recently.
New studies from China and North America show that one of the biggest problems with fluorinated water is the intake cannot be controlled. This makes children, small individuals more susceptible to health problems. But people, in general, who consume fluoridated water, may be being overexposed. The town of Alliston has never fluorinated the water system. (For additional information check out the town’s committee report #PW-2009-10).
Recent research is also suggesting that fluoride may be connected to a number of serious conditions, including the development in teenage boys of osteosarcoma. Fluorinated water may also be connected to reduced intelligence levels in children and impaired thyroid function.
Despite these new findings, Health Canada and The Canadian Dental Association consider the benefits of fluorinated water to far out weigh the risks. In the U.S., water fluoridation is listed as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century. However, these finding seem to bring into question the consumption of fluoride as a benefit but there are factors to consider in the topical application as well.
Fluoride in Our Toothpaste
The potential danger regarding fluoride-containing toothpastes appears to be the accidental ingestion of fluoride due to inadvertently swallowing the paste. Young children are at the higher risk because they are more likely to swallow the toothpastes, if not properly supervised. Due to this concern, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, U.S.A.) requires a warning statement on the packaging of all fluoride-containing toothpastes. Some doctors and dentist recommend that fluoride toothpaste be avoided all together, but here it does seems, at least for adults, that the benefits out weighs the risks
Sources and Additional Reading
www.cuprident.com/fluoride.php
CTV.ca Experts disagree on fluoride in drinking water
Globe and Mail November 23, 2007
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
I don't really have anything to say about the fluoride thing--I never really thought about the fact that it might be harmful to our health--I guess overall it's good to be informed and to "inform ourselves" about stuff that we ingest--I think that way now but when I was younger I didn't think too much about it--too trusting maybe?--
ReplyDeleteanyway now am much more interested in organic foods and other health remedies that are more "organic" in nature.
so...the question I had was...what was that you said about a community garden in alliston?? I would be interested in that definitely!! Anxious to hear more details on that subject...
Joanne
Lovely execution of my favourite word.
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