Should Fluoride be Added to Drinking Water?

 

 

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in drinking water but in some areas where natural levels are low, the mineral is added in a process known as fluoridation. However, experts struggle to agree whether fluoridation is a positive practice. So should fluoride be added to our drinking water?

 

Yes – Michael

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral – it’s not an artificial ingredient or a dangerous chemical so I don’t think there is any problem adding it to the water supply. We know that fluoride is crucial for good dental health as it strengthens tooth enamel and protects against tooth decay. By adding it to drinking water we are helping people avoid uncomfortable and costly dental treatment. We also need to remember that tooth decay has been linked to more serious problems such as heart disease so it’s important to do all we can to prevent these issues.

I know some people worry that fluoridation might have unwanted side effects but the process has been studied and reviewed many times and experts have shown that it is completely safe. And the benefits are clear to see – I’ve seen studies showing that children who live in areas where fluoridation occurs have almost 60 percent less tooth decay than children living in non-fluoridated areas. We have to trust that the Government has our best interests at heart and wouldn’t add something to our drinking supply that could be dangerous.

It’s also important to remember that fluoride is only added to water in areas where its natural levels are low. By adding it we are just bringing those areas up to the same levels as the rest of the country. Fluoridation has been well researched and is good for our health so I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.

 

 

No – Annabel

There are a number of problems with adding fluoride to drinking water. Perhaps the most important is that it takes away our freedom of choice. I don’t think anyone – whether it’s the Government, or health practitioners, has the right to dictate what supplements I should be taking. If we allow fluoride to be added to water now, then who knows what else might be added in a few years time just because experts think it’s good for us.

I also don’t believe adequate research has been conducted into fluoridation. I’ve heard that excess fluoride can lead to all sorts of health problems from causing arthritic symptoms to lowering the IQ. And ironically, too much fluoride can actually cause dental problems as there is a condition called fluorosis which occurs when children’s teeth are exposed to too much fluoride.

Dosage is also a big concern as there’s no way of controlling how much fluoride each individual receives as we all drink different amounts of water. In addition, some people are more sensitive to fluoride than others so would be advised to avoid high amounts – but what choice do they have if it is added to our drinking water? Surely if we have a problem with dental decay it would be better to educate people about good dental hygiene so that they can take control of their own health, rather than taking away people’s choices.

 

Categories: added, Drinking, drinking water, Fluoride, natural levels, nbsp nbsp, tooth decay, Water, water nbsp

Understanding the Role of Fluoride in Dental Care

 

By Erika Remmington

 

The discovery of fluoride to aid in resisting tooth decay began in 1901, when a dentist noticed the brown mottling of teeth in residents of a town in Colorado. The teeth of these residents were also unusually resistant to tooth decay. The years of research that followed indicated that a mineral called fluoride that was naturally present in the water was the cause of these effects. This discovery sparked a revolution in dental care that has preserved the dental health of millions of people. Today, fluoride is added to water in many communities. Fluoride treatments can be administered in dentists’ offices as additional protection.

 

What Are Fluoride Treatments?

Although most people get sufficient amounts of fluoride in their drinking water, some individuals may need extra protection. Fluoride treatments are the direct application of fluoride compounds directly onto the tooth surfaces in the dentist’s office. These compounds are generally in the form of gels or varnishes that are applied and allowed to dry to provide additional protection against cavities. Slow-release devices that release the fluoride over time are also available. These devices are implanted onto the surface of a tooth to provide localized protection against dental caries.

 

Who Needs Fluoride Treatments?

Individuals who are particularly vulnerable to dental caries can benefit from fluoride treatments. Among these are those who have:

· Braces

· Frequent cavities

· Dry Mouth Conditions

· Gum Disease

· Bridges and Crowns

 

Benefits

The American Dental Association states that fluoride treatments can reduce the incidence of dental caries and recommend it as a preventative treatment for those individuals who are at high risk for developing cavities. Fluoride not only strengthens tooth enamel to fight erosion; it also helps to reduce the bacteria on teeth that cause dental caries.

 

Risks

Fluoride is considered safe and effective at recommended dosages. Children under the age of six should not get fluoride treatments because of the risk of dental fluorosis, a condition in which the teeth become discolored. Children should also be monitored in their use of fluoride-containing toothpastes and rinses to avoid this problem. Adults generally do not suffer ill effects from fluoride treatment. However, some individuals may experience nausea and gastrointestinal effects from fluoride treatments.

 

Should You Get Fluoride Treatments?

If you are among one of the groups of patients that are at particular risk for dental caries, your dentist may suggest fluoride treatments. Dental experts recommend these treatments as a safe and effective method of prevention for those who need extra protection against cavities.

 

 

Information provided by Parkland Mall Dental Centre, a Red Deer Dental Clinic.

 

 

Categories: care, Dental, Fluoride

Could Your Daily Cup Of Tea Contain Too Much Fluoride?

We all know that tea contains caffeine, and therefore it is important for our wellness and wellbeing to only drink it in moderation. What has not previously been understood, however, is that tea may also contain too much fluoride.

 

The national newspaper The Daily Telegraph has reported that those who drink cheaper supermarket blends of tea could be at increased risk of developing problems with their bones and teeth. This news story comes from a study that has looked into the fluoride levels in different brands of tea, and this included the economy products from leading supermarkets.

 

Although fluoride is a mineral that is normally associated with healthy bones and teeth, an excess of the mineral can lead to something called fluorosis. This fluorosis causes bone pain and stiffness and can lead to a discoloration of the teeth, too.

 

During the study, researchers found that the cheaper or ‘own brand’ supermarket teas often contained higher levels of fluoride than the more expensive ‘brand name’ equivalents. The researchers calculated that if you regularly consume around a litre of tea per day, you are likely to be consuming more than the recommended levels of fluoride every day, and this could be damaging to your health.

 

Fluorosis generally occurs in countries where the natural levels of the mineral are high, and is therefore rarely found in the UK, but this study means that the problem could be on the rise in the UK. Tea drinkers are therefore warned that they should exercise caution when drinking large amounts of tea (although of course they should already be cautious of this due to the damaging effects of consuming too much caffeine).

 

It is thought that the fluoride enters the tea bags because the tea plants absorb fluoride when the plants are grown in acidic soil. The leaves of the plant then contain levels of fluoride.

Categories: Fluoride, fluorosis, levels, nbsp, tea, teeth

Sweet Tooth: Study Shows Tea Made Woman Lose her Teeth

There are two stereotypes that we Brits have been attributed with having, mainly by those across the pond: we have bad teeth, and we drink tea all the time. Now, anyone can see the reason for the latter; a good cup of tea is a staple part of the British diet, but when it comes to the former stereotype, it’s hard to see where the bad teeth thing comes from. However, a study from the New England Journal of Medicine has put the shoe on the other foot, and shown that not only are American big tea drinkers, but this is causing them to lose their teeth altogether.

A 47 year-old woman from Michigan had severe pain in her back, arms, legs and hips, and her wellness was also affected by tooth loss and other bone problems. After treating her pain, her doctor, Sudhaker Rao, realised that his patient had consumed “astronomical amounts” of highly concentrated tea for nearly 20 years, and this had caused her fluoride levels to spike to more than four times the normal amount.

This copious amount of tea drinking put the woman’s wellbeing at risk, with her bones becoming so brittle that her teeth had to be extracted. Rao commented, ‘Her bone density was very high, seven times denser than normal – it was like steel.’ There is a high amount of fluoride in US-brewed tea, and Rao believes that this was causing her bone problems. He noted, ‘There have been about three to four cases reported in the US associated with ingesting tea, especially large amounts of it. Most of us can excrete fluoride extremely well, but if you drink too much, it can be a problem.’

On a daily basis, the patient had been downing a pitcher of tea, which contains roughly 20 milligrams of fluoride. Since she has been prescribed a tea-free diet, the patient has recovered, but wellness experts have said that her case should not be forgotten. According to New York City doctor Joseph Lane, chief of the metabolic bone disease service at Weill Cornell Medical College, the tea case, and his own experience, shows that extreme consumption of almost any substance can be harmful. He noted a patient of his “overdosed” on fish oil. ‘Then she had a minor injury and bled a lot, almost like haemophilia – it turns out the patient had too much vitamin E in the blood,’ he explained. This goes to show that everything really should be taken in moderation – even, dare I say it, tea.

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Sweet Tooth: Study Shows Tea Made Woman Lose her Teeth

Categories: Fluoride, tea, Tooth Loss