Community Water Fluoridation Controversy Water

If left untreated, pulp infection can lead to abscess, destruction of bone, and systemic infection (Cawson et al. 1982; USDHHS 2000). Various sources have concluded that water fluoridation has been an effective method for preventing dental decay (Newbrun 1989; Ripa 1993; Horowitz 1996; CDC 2001; Truman et al. 2002). Water fluoridation is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of the 10 great public health achievements in the United States, because of its role in reducing tooth decay in children and tooth loss in adults (CDC 1999). Each U.S. Surgeon General has endorsed water fluoridation over the decades it has been practiced, emphasizing that “[a] significant advantage of water fluoridation is that all residents of a community can enjoy its protective benefit…. A person’s income level or ability to receive dental care is not a barrier to receiving fluoridation’s health benefits” (Carmona 2004). As noted earlier, this report does not evaluate nor make judgments about the benefits, safety, or efficacy of artificial water fluoridation. That practice is reviewed only in terms of being a source of exposure to

Fluoride in drinking water has been a hot topic in the past decade. Some communities are all for it and some are completely against it. With such a range of opinions on the matter some organizations have took it upon themselves to present the pros and cons of the fluoride to the public so they can make informed decisions. Often times these surveys are bias to one side or the other, so I shall be giving information on both sides of the issue, the future outlook, and my personal opinion in order to help inform you to decide on your own.

In United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Healthy People 2020 (2011), the report talks about how many improvements have occurred in oral health but there is still a lot more improvement needed. The report further explains how water fluoridation has been one of the most efficient ways to reduce decay across the nation. Mostly everyone has access to water and if the water is fluoridated, then those with little or no access to dental care are getting preventative dental care in the form of a fluoride regimen in their daily water intake. (HHS, Healthy People 2020, 2011) Given this, it would only make sense that the government would employ a dental professional to assess the water fluoridation in every state.

According to World Health Organization data obtained from a study on 12 year old’s levels of tooth decay, fluoride has had very little effect, if any at all, on tooth decay. Countries such as Japan, Italy, and Iceland, who are non-fluoridated countries, actually have about the same level of tooth decay decrease as countries that have fluoridated water. Fluoride is considered a drug, according to the FDA, which means that it is a medical treatment. Medical treatments are not to be given unless the patient agrees to the treatment, therefore, placing fluoride into the public water supply violates informed consent seeing as how citizens are not given the opportunity to vote on the matter. Even if people could vote on the situation, not all people are going to agree with and since it is considered a drug, it

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

Research has been showed that such an improvement is due to many factors that combined together. One of these factors is systemic water fluoridation, which has been announced to have a substantial impact on children dental health, alongside with topical fluoride that can be found in mouthwash, toothpaste, and fluoride supplements. In addition to better nutrition, rising standards of living, and better access to dental care 76.

Fluoride compounds have been added to water supplies since as early as the 1950s because claims were made to support fluoride's use as a cavity preventer. However, studies conducted even decades before have shown that fluoride is an extremely hazardous substance that should be completely avoided. These views or claims about fluoride are just too contradictory, both cannot be true. Fluoride has hidden dangers that not enough people know about and should be removed from the water supplies despite false reports that it is actually beneficial, and the practice of water fluoridation should be completely eliminated.

American Dental Association (ADA) has written and article on “5 Reasons Why Fluoride in Water is Good for Communities”(ADA, 2017.). The ADA then proceeds to go into depth on each of these five topics, as I will summarize in my own words. First, fluoride prevents tooth decay by being present in the

Fluoride is the ionic form of the element fluorine and is the 13th most abundant element in the earth's crust. Chemically, fluoride is negatively charged and combines with positive ions to form stable compounds such as calcium fluoride or sodium fluoride. Such fluorides are released into the environment naturally in the form of both water and air. Generally, when the term fluoride is mentioned, thoughts associated with calcified tissues (i.e., bones and teeth) are provoked. This is likely due to fluoride’s high affinity for calcium, enabling its ability to inhibit or even reverse the initiation and progression of dental caries, otherwise known as tooth decay. Caries are an infectious, multifactorial disease afflicting most persons

Visiting a dentist, in most cases, is not exactly an event that someone looks forward to. Oral hygiene is important in making sure that no problems arise for teeth, however, and the issue of unhealthy teeth has been combatted by advertisements, and more recently, the additive of fluoride into tap water. Fluoride has been important in the process of improving the dental health of Americans; after the addition of fluoride into tap water, tooth decay decreased drastically among Americans and most significantly among young children. It’s argued, however, that fluoride is dangerous, not required, and a violation of someone 's rights by being added to water. In reality, fluoride is a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay by being added

Fluoride is a mineral found in the earth’s crust with proven benefit in protecting against dental caries better known as cavities (Colgate Oral Care, 2016). Fluoride is available through oral health care products and disseminated through the public water supply in every state across the country. Even rural residents receiving their water from a well have trace concentrations of fluoride. Individuals using private well water are urged to have their fluoride levels analyzed by a laboratory; suggestions on reputable laboratories are provided through the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website (CDC.gov, 2015).

When fluoridation plans came about in 1964 it was estimated that only 10% of children would be affected by fluorosis, however cases have since exceeded such estimations. There are three forms of fluorosis; mild, moderate and severe. Although nearly all cases are considered amongst the ‘mild’ category there is still evidence of negative effects, enough to make people sceptical. Along with fluoride being harmful to teeth it was found to damage soft tissues and bones. Recently there have been 24 studies performed which found links to reduced IQ in children exposed to amounts of fluoride. However, these tests were not tested with fluoridated water. When added to water it is in compound form, for example as sodium fluoride, therefore reducing its toxicity. It is also well known that susceptibility to the fluoride toxins varies greatly between individuals. Fluorosis is the most common disorder which fluoride creates. It is almost always having a cosmetic effect leaving white streaks on teeth as well as altering the appearance of growing teeth in children. The fact that it leaves permanent damage to the tooth’s enamel means that parents are highly reluctant to having such a harmful chemical in their water. This is not only a common theme in the UK, only 11 countries in the world have more than 50% of their population drinking fluoridated water. With only about 6 million people supplied with fluoridated water, it means only 10% of the UK has agreed to the legislations. This shows that very few people agree with its benefits. Anti- fluoride campaigns are most prominent in Manchester and London, two major

For oral health professionals, administering and recommending fluoride is a common practice. Using fluoridated toothpaste as a preventive and controlling method for dental caries has been a common recommendation for over 50 years (Schemehorn, DiMarino, & Movahed, 2014, p.57). Oral health professionals and researchers have found that although the occurrence of dental caries is declining, dental fluorosis and other systemic effects are becoming a rising occurrence (p.57). Therefore, researchers have been looking for a way to improve the fluoride uptake without increasing the dosage of fluoride due to its systemic risks (p. 57).

Most people know fluoride as a chemical added to water and toothpaste to improve dental health. Some people believe that fluoride is vital to the growth and maintenance of out teeth but others say fluoride is dangerous and harmful even when diluted. So what are the reasons behind adding this supposed “poison” to our water supply and do we really need it? Well I believe we need fluoride, and this document should help to explain why.

Is the adjustment of the natural concentration of fluoride in drinking water to the optimal recommended level for the prevention of dental caries.