Fluoride Essay

Another issue of controversy is the safety of the chemicals used to fluoridate water. The most commonly used additives are silicofluorides, not the fluoride salts used in dental products (such as sodium fluoride and stannous fluoride). Silicofluorides are one of the by-products from the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers. The toxicity database on silicofluorides is sparse and questions have been raised about the assumption that they completely dissociate in water and, therefore, have toxicity similar to the fluoride salts tested in laboratory studies and used in consumer products (Coplan and Masters 2001). It also has been maintained that, because of individual variations in exposure to fluoride, it is difficult to ensure that the right individual dose to protect against dental caries is provided through large-scale water fluoridation. In addition, a body of information has developed that indicates the major anticaries benefit of fluoride is topical and not systemic (Zero et al. 1992; Rölla and Ekstrand 1996; Featherstone 1999; Limeback 1999a; Clarkson and McLoughlin 2000; CDC 2001; Fejerskov

The NRC reported in 2007 that fluoride was considered an element essential to life. Fluoride plays an important role in the body’s ability to perform metabolic and biochemical reactions that help prevent tooth decay and help bone formation. Essentially the government says that the fluoridation of water is more helpful than harmful for people as it is a good use of tax dollars as it treats upper class and lower class citizens equally in dental prevention.

Higgs explains in her essay that the use of fluoride has been used in water for some time now and that it is used to help prevent tooth decay as stated in her citations. She further explains that when brushing ones teeth and swallows an “x” amount of toothpaste that that one should called poison control, so why would one be able to drink it? About sixty percent of homes contain fluoride-added water and an average person is suppose to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day, while the amount of fluoride in each glass contains more than twice the amount (to be consumed) of fluoride allowed in toothpaste (Higgs par.2), and if one had too much

Fluoridation of drinking water addresses the health issue of tooth decay and the related dental problems associated with it.1 Fluoride is associated with this health issue since fluoride has been recognized as an important nutrient for healthy teeth.1

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommendation for the optimal fluoride level in drinking water to prevent tooth decay have changed from 0.7 -1.2 milligrams per liter stablished in 1962 to 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water. This change was the result of a systematic reviews of the scientific evidence related community water fluoridation since it was incorporated in 1945. As a result of community water fluoridation there was an increase in the percentage of children who were caries-free and a significant decreases in the number of teeth or tooth surfaces with caries in both children and adult. The main reason to lower the recommendation was because Americans nowadays have more sources of fluoride than the ones

In those case the person have to control the levels of fluorides because in most cases the levels are greater than FDA/CDC recommend but most people don't treat their water to lower the amount of fluoridation. In the case cities water systems fluoridation is monitored and adjusted to meet certain standards, low enough not to cause harm yet high enough to aid in preventing tooth decay. Tooth decay is a big health problem if not controlled. Which one the the water supply systems did you read about that was causing the health

The current data suggests that water fluoridation disproportionately harms low-income and minority communities. In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control released the results of a national survey of dental fluorosis, which was conducted between 1999 and 2002. According to the results, in the U.S., African American children have significantly higher rates of dental fluorosis.2 Same observation has been made in other studies as well. Another study conduced in Indianapolis, Indiana, shows that “the prevalence of dental fluorosis in African American children (80.1%) was significantly higher than in Whites (62.5%). 3

The ingredient that takes place in our everyday life is fluoride. It is well known for its happy propaganda of everybody needing good health and what better way to start it then with your teeth and make you think fluoride is good for the health, when the reality of the matter is , it damages your health.

Australia’s main focus is public health intervention by preventing dental caries through this process with a recommended level of fluoride 0.7 – 1.0 ppm or I mg-L or less is recommended levels of fluoride throughout Australia. (Adelaide.edu 2016) and (NSW Health.gov

First of all, naturally fluoridated water has fluorine levels of approximately 0.4 mg/L, while artificially fluoridated water can have levels up to 1.0mg/L. This long-term ingestion of excess fluorine can lead to fluorosis which may negatively impact teeth and bones. Dental fluorosis occurs during tooth development. Teeth are mostly composed of hydroxylapatite, which is a mineral form of calcium. When intake of fluoride increases, it also increases apatite content, creating white streaks and in more serious cases cause mottling of teeth. In addition, fluoride levels in breast milk are around 0.004mg/L. Therefore, infants who drink baby formula with fluoridated water will be exposed to 300 times more fluoride, increasing the risk of developing dental fluorosis. Skeletal fluorosis is another disease in which fluoride accumulates in the bone for several years. Early symptoms of skeletal fluorosis may be forms of arthritis such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis which are joint pains and stiffness. In more severe cases, the bone can calcify, which is the conversion of soft bone tissue into hard and insoluble calcium compounds. This can lead to muscle and joint impairment. (WHO) For over 40 years, U.S health organizations have claimed that skeletal fluorosis will not develop unless an individual intake 10-20mg/L of fluoride every day. However, studies in India and China shows that a person can have skeletal fluorosis with levels of 0.7-1.5mg/L. Fluoride can also impact

As indicated by John J. Warren, DDS, MS Steven M. Exact, DDS, MPH, there is overpowering confirmation that fluoride dentifrice is an exceptionally viable method for caries aversion, and it has been hypothesized that fluoride dentifrice, alongside group water fluoridation, are the primary purposes behind the caries decrease in many industrialized countries. Despite the fact that there is little question of the adequacy of fluoride dentifrice in aversion of dental caries, concerns have been raised as of late with respect to the part of fluoride dentifrice in dental fluorosis. This paper surveys both investigations of dental fluorosis that have considered fluoride dentifrice as hazard element and the adequacy of low-fluoride focus dentifrices.

Adair et al., utilized methods for this study where children were examined by calibrated two dentists and parents completing a questionnaire about fluoride exposure. The population in this study included children whose school drinking water was fluoridated. Differences between the population groups came from home water supply either being fluoridated or non-fluoridated. A major limitation of this study is that only a small sample size in rural Georgia was assessed.

“Studies show that fluoride in community water systems prevents at least 25 percent of tooth decay in children and adults…” and “Early studies, such as those conducted in Grand Rapids, showed that water fluoridation reduced the amount of cavities children get in their baby teeth by

The potential for human exposure to fluoride is high due to it being a compound that is virtually everywhere within our environment. Small amounts can be found in the air, water, plants, and animals, making it hard to avoid being exposed to at least a small dose. The general population is exposed to fluoride on a daily basis through the consumption of foods, drinking water, and fluoride-containing dental products (ATDSR, 2003). Industrial factories that use fluoride in their production of goods pose a major risk to the people that live in the area for exposure. The air around these places can be contaminated with fluorine gas or fluoride could have seeped into the surrounding soil. Not only can the population be exposed to fluoride from human

Safety data sheets from Solvay fluorides prove that five grams of sodium fluoride can be very dangerous for men with an average size (70 kg). Even through oral toxicity can lead to fluorosis in some organs, such as testes, liver, kidneys, teeth, and bone. It is also associated with an ambiguous mutagenic and carcinogenic substances accumulation that will reduce fertility and even cause cancer. You do not have to trust the government's claims about the use of fluoridated water because scientists have concluded that dental fluorosis is caused by fluoridated water.