What’s Wrong with Fluoride?

Back in November I got a notice with my monthly water bill extolling the benefits of fluoride and letting me know that – lucky for me – the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will be adding fluoride to its treated water supply. How lovely.

Before I walk you through the propaganda notice I received, here is a little video to get you started.

Interestingly, you will find that, while the ADA has only recently started warning against using fluoridated water in baby formula, the ADA is also one of the top resources cited in favor of fluoride use by water districts and government agencies.

This is an important issue and one that most people are either ignorant of or simply do not understand the significance of. Please keep reading. I promise you a good example of the kind of propaganda you might have already received from your water district, some great resources and a few must-see videos that will make you think, should make you mad and will encourage you to take action.

As I mentioned, my local water district included a short notice with my November 2007 statement detailing the fluoridation of our water supply. Without quoting the entire notice, let me touch on a few points. Special thanks to Fluoride Alert for much of the rebuttal information.

According to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California:

1. “This means you will be able to help prevent cavities simply by regularly drinking a glass of tap water.” I cannot help but picture Principal Skinner introducing some guy dressed up as a tooth at a Springfield Elementary pep rally (Simpsons reference). The bottom line is that fluoridated water is UNNECESSARY for healthy teeth. Here is what the folks over at Fluoride Alert have to say:

Is fluoridated water necessary for healthy teeth?

NO. Most recent, large-scale studies have found that fluoridated water provides only a minor benefit to teeth, or no demonstrable benefit at all. According to a recent Canadian government review: “The magnitude of fluoridation’s effect is not large in absolute terms, is often not statistically significant and may not be of clinical significance.”

Moreover, according to the National Academy of Sciences, fluoride is not an essential nutrient. This means that no human disease – including tooth decay – will result from a “deficiency” of fluoride. Thus, unlike real nutrients like calcium and magnesium, the human body does not need fluoride for any physiological process.

2. ” According to extensive research conducted over the past 50 years, water fluoridation is safe and healthy.” Wrong. Again, there is something about such bold claims that just screams infomercial. What do the independent and peer-reviewed researchers say?

Recent studies in the peer-reviewed medical literature indicate that fluoridated water can have detrimental side effects. Health risks associated with low-to-moderate doses of fluoride include: dental fluorosis; bone fracture; bone cancer; joint pain; skin rash, reduced thyroid activity; and IQ deficits.

3. “Ever since 1945, the Surgeon General’s office has consistently endorsed fluoride.” So what? The evidence shows that the Surgeon General’s office has been wrong. This is part of an overall tactic designed to persuade you of something without actually demonstrating the validity of the point in question. Keep your eyes out for tactics like this. A statement like this is not necessarily wrong, but within a particular context, it may be a clue that you are being taken for a ride. Remember that the authority figure being appealed to may be wrong – or worse, may be intentionally misleading you.

4. “Drinking fluoridated water, as part of your diet, will provide about 60 percent of the protection necessary to fight against cavities.” I have no idea where 60 percent comes from. I am sure they have some research somewhere that suggests that figure, but it’s not cited. Regardless, independent research suggests that the benefit of fluoridation is statistically insignificant and furthermore, there is no need to swallow fluoride in order to prevent tooth decay. Ingestion of fluoride has little benefit, but many risks. Also, remember that if you really want some fluoride, it is readily available. There is no need for the state to drug us if all they want is for us to have healthy teeth. If they have other motivations, then that’s a different story.

5. “This is a particular advantage for children.” Wrong Again! We already know that it really does not work as well as they suggest. But also, fluoridated water is unsafe for babies and can lead to dental fluorosis in children (definitely check that link out).

6. “Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter.” Remember the pep-rally tooth? He wears a cape. More tricky tactics. Again, please remember that you can get fluoride in any number of places. If you just can’t get enough, go ask your dentist. Given the fact that fluoride apologists almost exclusively appeal to the ADA and toothpaste manufacturer’s “studies” for their support, I am sure they will be happy to fill you up.

7. “Water fluoridation is not a new concept. Cities across the nation have been adding fluoride to their water supplies for decades….Metropolitan now joins more than 14,000 communities across the nation that have fluoridated water supplies.” Here we go again. Did you catch this one? This is a type of Appeal to Common Practice. Most of you parents are familiar with this one. “But mom, everyone is doing it so it must be ok” All this proves is that over 14,000 communities are being drugged and have been for decades. But since we’re throwing numbers around, here’s one for ya:

While most water supplies in the United States are artificially fluoridated, most water supplies in other western countries are not. In western Europe, most countries have rejected water fluoridation, including: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Less than 10 countries in the world fluoridate more than 50% of their water supplies, while almost half of the world’s population drinking fluoridated water reside in North America (Canada & US). (source)

8. “Customers who do not wish to drink fluoridated water should know that most bottled waters do contain levels of fluoride below the optimum range….Home water treatment units that use reverse osmosis membrane filtration will effectively remove fluoride.” Fortunately, just after the part where they told me that this wonderful fluoridation would not cost me anything extra, they kindly point out that if I don’t want to drink fluoridated water I can go buy a reverse-osmosis filter. Well, I just may do that. Unfortunately, they are not without their drawbacks either. Apart from the cost, and a handful of other things, “Its main disadvantage is that it wastes two to four gallons of tap water for every gallon that gets filtered.” (see ‘reverse-osmosis’ link above) This is especially funny given the fact that most notices I receive from the water district focus on conserving water. So my choices seem to be: 1. get drugged and have no say in the matter; or 2. spend some extra cash and waste some extra water. Gee, thanks Big Brother. How about you just not drug my water supply to begin with?

More points to ponder:

“Fluoride is the only chemical added to drinking water for the purpose of medication (to prevent tooth decay). All other treatment chemicals are added to treat the water (to improve the water’s quality and safety – which fluoride does not do). This in one of the reasons why most of Europe has rejected fluoridation. For instance:

In Germany, “The argumentation of the Federal Ministry of Health against a general permission of fluoridation of drinking water is the problematic nature of compulsion medication.“

In Belgium, it is “the fundamental position of the drinking water sector that it is not its task to deliver medicinal treatment to people. This is the sole responsibility of health services.”

In Luxembourg, “In our views, drinking water isn’t the suitable way for medicinal treatment and that people needing an addition of fluoride can decide by their own to use the most appropriate way.”

(This is an extended direct quotation taken from Fluoride Alert’s 10 Facts about Fluoride page. You may also like more information about fluoridation in Europe.)

Here is another great video, this one featuring Dr. Bill Osmunson, a one time proponent of water fluoridation who now works to inform everyone of the dangers of fluoride. Check it out.

Suffice it to say that this is not an uncontroversial issue, despite what your local water district might have you believe. In fact, the deeper you dig, the more interesting and scary fluoridation becomes as it is simply one of many ways in which the government seeks to control the population.

I will leave the conspiracy theories for another post. For now, just realize that most of you are being medicated and have no choice in the matter. I cannot imagine that there would be any other circumstance where you would knowingly allow something like this to happen.

Well, here’s a little bit of conspiracy theory for you. Enjoy!

Also, The Fluoride Deception: An Interview with Christopher Bryson

I initially found these videos over at Alex Jones’ Truth News. Please visit and support this fantastic resource. Be sure to read the excellent accompanying article, 1945 Human Experiment Predicts Current Fluoride Ill Effects.

What should you do now? Good question. Get informed and then get to work. Here are a couple of sites to get you started.

Fluoride Alert

Fluoridation

Thanks for reading!

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~ by Dan on January 27, 2008.