Our intern Brad wrote a great post on Calgary’s fluoride debate this week. What’s your opinion?

[poll id=”4″]

Got more to say? Leave a comment below.

22 COMMENTS

  1. There are far more toxic substances that find thier way into city water supplies. Fluoride has been proven effective against tooth decay.

  2. There are far more toxic substances that find thier way into city water supplies. Fluoride has been proven effective against tooth decay.

  3. Either we rely on government agencies such as Health Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency or we don’t.

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) recently proposed that the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water be set at 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L) to prevent tooth decay, replacing the current recommended range of 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L.

  4. Either we rely on government agencies such as Health Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency or we don’t.

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) recently proposed that the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water be set at 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L) to prevent tooth decay, replacing the current recommended range of 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L.

  5. Our city voted out fluoride many years ago. I happen to have two good friends who are dentists and they have not noticed any increase in dental decay in any age group since fluoride was removed. The benefits are way overstated IMO and there are better alternatives.

    There is a big difference between topical fluoride treatment with fluoride to prevent dental decay and ingesting fluoride through the intestines. If we are concerned about dental decay, it would be FAR cheaper and FAR more effective (and medically safer) to provide all children in the given community with fluoride toothpaste. For school age children, it could easily be distributed through schools and for younger children through other means (free at health clinics, dentists, handed out at regular immunizations, etc.).

    Fluoride is a regulated contaminant in water because it has known toxic effects. The recent lowering of acceptable levels by regulators is a clear indication that they are concerned – we should be too.

  6. Our city voted out fluoride many years ago. I happen to have two good friends who are dentists and they have not noticed any increase in dental decay in any age group since fluoride was removed. The benefits are way overstated IMO and there are better alternatives.

    There is a big difference between topical fluoride treatment with fluoride to prevent dental decay and ingesting fluoride through the intestines. If we are concerned about dental decay, it would be FAR cheaper and FAR more effective (and medically safer) to provide all children in the given community with fluoride toothpaste. For school age children, it could easily be distributed through schools and for younger children through other means (free at health clinics, dentists, handed out at regular immunizations, etc.).

    Fluoride is a regulated contaminant in water because it has known toxic effects. The recent lowering of acceptable levels by regulators is a clear indication that they are concerned – we should be too.

  7. We should endeavor to make our tap water as ‘pure’ as possible.. and like Rob says, there are far worse things in our water than flouride (endocrine disruptors anyone?). In any case, if dentists think we should have more flouride, shouldn’t they add more in toothpaste?
    If municipalities do add floride, could they also put some vitamin D in there to help us with our long dark winters?

  8. We should endeavor to make our tap water as ‘pure’ as possible.. and like Rob says, there are far worse things in our water than flouride (endocrine disruptors anyone?). In any case, if dentists think we should have more flouride, shouldn’t they add more in toothpaste?
    If municipalities do add floride, could they also put some vitamin D in there to help us with our long dark winters?

  9. I had read somewhere that tooth decay had increased for the first time in generations. Is this because of removal of Flouride from drinking water?? Could be the excessive use of sugar and juck food.
    If we are going to Flouride our citizens through water distribution, why stop there, vitmins, protiens, weight loss chemicals, birth control????

  10. I had read somewhere that tooth decay had increased for the first time in generations. Is this because of removal of Flouride from drinking water?? Could be the excessive use of sugar and juck food.
    If we are going to Flouride our citizens through water distribution, why stop there, vitmins, protiens, weight loss chemicals, birth control????

  11. If there is limited benefit to adding fluoride, than I feel it should be removed. It will save the taxpayers from having to pay another expensive bill for a service with limited benefits. There are many toothpastes available that have fluoride added for those who want it. And for those who filter their water, it will be one less chemical to remove before consuming it. As Grant pointed out, how much benefit is there to ingesting it vs. using it topically; especially, if the dentists he knows have seen no change other than that which is probably caused by the excessive consumption of sugar & junk food and/or the lack of flossing (I haven’t had a single cavity since I started flossing 15 yrs ago). There are already too many chemicals added to the water…many of which taste & smell unpleasant, like the bleach smell that periodically comes from the taps several times a year.

  12. If there is limited benefit to adding fluoride, than I feel it should be removed. It will save the taxpayers from having to pay another expensive bill for a service with limited benefits. There are many toothpastes available that have fluoride added for those who want it. And for those who filter their water, it will be one less chemical to remove before consuming it. As Grant pointed out, how much benefit is there to ingesting it vs. using it topically; especially, if the dentists he knows have seen no change other than that which is probably caused by the excessive consumption of sugar & junk food and/or the lack of flossing (I haven’t had a single cavity since I started flossing 15 yrs ago). There are already too many chemicals added to the water…many of which taste & smell unpleasant, like the bleach smell that periodically comes from the taps several times a year.

  13. I suggest anyone who thinks flouride isn’t harmful look at the Youtube videos of Dr. Paul Connett.
    Besides the ethics of mass medicating a population, it makes no financial sense. Approximatly 3% of the water produced is consumed by humans, so why fluoridate water that goes on our lawns, in our toilets, showers, etc, etc.
    If you want fluoride in your water add it yourself. Then you will get a medical grade fluoride not the toxic waste that is added at the water treatment plant.

  14. I suggest anyone who thinks flouride isn’t harmful look at the Youtube videos of Dr. Paul Connett.
    Besides the ethics of mass medicating a population, it makes no financial sense. Approximatly 3% of the water produced is consumed by humans, so why fluoridate water that goes on our lawns, in our toilets, showers, etc, etc.
    If you want fluoride in your water add it yourself. Then you will get a medical grade fluoride not the toxic waste that is added at the water treatment plant.

  15. I would like the freedom of choice. If I want to ingest fluoride, I can buy it in pill form. If I want my teeth to have fluoride treatment I’ll brush them with fluoridated tooth-paste. I personally know that fluoride is toxic from all the research I have done. Therefore I would like to see it removed from my water. If others would like to ingest fluoride let them pay for it. Why should tax payers pay to poison their water. There are so many people who want fluoride out of their water. Why should they be forced to have fluoridated water? I haven’t had a drink of tap water in 10 years, and will continue to refuse to until it is fluoride free!!!! I don’t need my government dictating to me what is good or bad for me.

  16. I would like the freedom of choice. If I want to ingest fluoride, I can buy it in pill form. If I want my teeth to have fluoride treatment I’ll brush them with fluoridated tooth-paste. I personally know that fluoride is toxic from all the research I have done. Therefore I would like to see it removed from my water. If others would like to ingest fluoride let them pay for it. Why should tax payers pay to poison their water. There are so many people who want fluoride out of their water. Why should they be forced to have fluoridated water? I haven’t had a drink of tap water in 10 years, and will continue to refuse to until it is fluoride free!!!! I don’t need my government dictating to me what is good or bad for me.

  17. The board of the Santa Clara Valley Water District (in California) held a public meeting March 22nd on water fluoridation. This summer they are scheduled to vote on whether or not to fluoridate the water supply. The board and their staff were given 20 copies of a 75-minute cd of doctors explaining the history, origin, and health hazards of this toxic waste. Doctors included John Lee, John Yiamouyannis, and Phyllis Mullenix. The audio is posted at the website http://www.MaeBrussell.com. Just go to the bottom of the homepage.

    If people were to burn a cd of that audio and spread it around (especially to churches, schools, health food stores and health clubs) you might find it very effective in waking up the public in your area. Good luck.

  18. The board of the Santa Clara Valley Water District (in California) held a public meeting March 22nd on water fluoridation. This summer they are scheduled to vote on whether or not to fluoridate the water supply. The board and their staff were given 20 copies of a 75-minute cd of doctors explaining the history, origin, and health hazards of this toxic waste. Doctors included John Lee, John Yiamouyannis, and Phyllis Mullenix. The audio is posted at the website http://www.MaeBrussell.com. Just go to the bottom of the homepage.

    If people were to burn a cd of that audio and spread it around (especially to churches, schools, health food stores and health clubs) you might find it very effective in waking up the public in your area. Good luck.

  19. I think that people should have the right to choose if they want themselves and their children to consume flouride. There are topical solutions that can be applied to teeth to give children fluoride.

    Just look at native people around the world that have strong, healthy teeth. Lack of flouride is not the problem, it is other aspects of the western diet.

    Flouride is slowly being voted out of communities. From what I hear it has been rejected in places like Europe and India long ago.

  20. I think that people should have the right to choose if they want themselves and their children to consume flouride. There are topical solutions that can be applied to teeth to give children fluoride.

    Just look at native people around the world that have strong, healthy teeth. Lack of flouride is not the problem, it is other aspects of the western diet.

    Flouride is slowly being voted out of communities. From what I hear it has been rejected in places like Europe and India long ago.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your name here
Please enter your comment!