Fluoride

Fluoride is a derivative of sodium fluoride, a deadly poison considered more toxic than lead. Fluoride is a highly unstable gas that combines with many minerals but has a special affinity for calcium and therefore causes hardening of tooth enamel.

Fluoride is still advocated by most doctors and dentists as the safest and most effective way to reduce tooth decay in children. But some recent studies have cast doubt on this premise.

Brian Dementi, a toxicologist with the Virginia State Department of Health, published a report in 1981 called Fluoride in Drinking Water. In this report, Dr. Dementi reviewed many scientific papers that showed that fluoride is both mutagenic and carcinogenic.

The largest epidemiological study done on fluoridated water and carcinogenicity was conducted in 1977 by Dr. Yaimouyiannis and Dr. Dean Burk, former head of cytochemistry at the National Cancer Institute. These doctors monitored cancer rates over a 20-year period in ten fluoridated American cities and ten non-fluoridated ones. After controlling for population differences in age, race and sex, the researchers found an increased cancer mortality rate in persons over age 45 in fluoridated cities.

Advocates of fluoridation insist that fluoride is safe in amounts recommended for drinking water and that its benefits outweigh the risks, a common enough modern day argument. But its is worth noting that Japan, Sweden, Holland, Denmark, West Germany and others have either discontinued or banned fluoride.

The August 1, 1989 issue of Chemical and Engineering News states that “The minister of the environment in Denmark recommended in 1977 that fluoridation not be allowed primarily because no adequate studies had been carried out on its long term effects on human organ systems other than teeth and because not enough studies had been done on the effects of fluoride discharges of freshwater ecosystems.”

Critics of fluoridation point out that the aluminum and chemical industries had serious disposal problems with fluoride compounds that were by-products of their industries and became heavy promoters of the theory that fluoridation prevents cavities and promotes healthy teeth.

There is a growing group of people who feel that in face of new evidence that fluoride is a carcinogen and a lack of evidence that it really prevents cavities, it is time for a fresh look at an old controversy that simply refuses to die.

Vol 9 Issue 3 page 3