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It’s Clearly the Best Thing Ever or the Worst Thing Ever
In a recent survey, we found that dentists are overwhelmingly in favor of water fluoridation. However, that’s hardly the end of the story.
There’s a small but vocal segment of the population that’s dead-set against fluoride in our public water systems. Fluoridation was introduced in the 1950’s, leading some to see a Communist conspiracy behind the public health measure.
Today’s debate centers on the possible health risks associated with fluoride. Some of this research comes from China, where naturally occurring levels of fluoride can lead to fluorosis and other ailments. The latest claim is that fluoride lowers IQ.
Even if you don’t agree, you might take a look at what the other side is saying – who knows when the next anti-fluoride patient is going to show up in your chair?
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November 28th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
My understanding is that the research used to determine optimal levels of fluoride actually showed 0.6ppm as the optimal for decay reduction. How did we get to 1.0 as the optimum level? I also understand that systemic fluoride is related to delayed tooth eruption (hmmm is that why it is related to decreased decay among same age groups who were studied with different systemic fluoride levels-because the teeth were not erupted (or hadn’t been in the mouth as long)in the kids who had more fluoride but less decay?) and sooner onset of menses in girls who had higher levels of fluoride. This topic has ruined many dental carrers (along with mercury) and is a very difficult topic but one that we should not stick our head in the sand and just follow the crowd over.
JD