Fluoridation: A Public Health Debate Fluoridation (the

Fluoridation: A Public Health Debate

Fluoridation (the adding of fluoride to water) has been a hotly debated health issue for over half a century. Some advocate fluoridation by citing the many oral benefits available through the process, heralding the betterment of public hygiene that has been achieved from the procedure's inception. Detractors, on the other hand, point out the possible side effects from the abuse of fluoridation, the health problems being experienced around the globe by countries with fluoridated water, and the indelible rights of man. Because the decision to fluoridate drinking water or not affects so many of the worlds population it is definitely a worthy topic to sink ones teeth into.

The concept of fluoridation began in the early 20th century by a Colorado Springs, Colorado dentist named Frederick McKay. Upon moving to the area from the East Coast, McKay noticed that several of his patients "exhibited strange brown stains on their permanent teeth" namely the present day condition known as fluorosis. Bewildered and unable to find a published medical reason for the phenomenon he enlisted the aid of Dr. G.V. Black, "an expert on dental enamel, to study the condition."

Through research, the two doctors were able to determine that the teeth were discolored because of developmental imperfections. "This meant that city residents whose permanent teeth had calcified without developing the stains did not risk having their teeth turn brown; young children waiting for their secondary set of teeth to erupt, however, were at high risk"

Shockingly, there was a positive side to the discoloration. The discolored teeth were very resistant to decay. Through trial, error, and research it was determined that it was an abundance of fluoride (a mineral found in rocks and soil) in the drinking water that was causing the resilient but discolored teeth. (Fluoride is naturally found in all drinking water. It was the amount found that was significant)

When Dr. H. Trendley Dean, a dental officer of the U.S. Public Health Service, entered the picture he was able to conclude that fluoride prevents tooth decay through direct contact with teeth and when people drink it in the water supply during the tooth forming years and later.

He was also able to deduce what levels of fluoride could be present in the water to successfully obtain the decay resistant elements of fluoride without the discoloring side effects. In 1936 it was determined that in drinking water, when levels of fluoride did not exceed 1.0 PPM (parts per million) fluorosis would not occur. If the fluoride exceeded this level, however, it would begin to occur.

In 1945, children in Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first group to test the fluoridation breakthrough. "The caries (decay) rate among Grand Rapids children born after fluoride was added to the water supply dropped more than 60%."

The benefits of fluoridation were obvious.

Throughout the fifties fluoridation saw an increase in popularity. More states, alerted to the ongoing oral health benefits, began to adjust the level of flouride in their water supplies to prevent decay. (Currently, over 144 million people in the United States are supplied with water containing enough fluoride to protect teeth.)

Other countries also began to realize then value of this course of action. The process was cost effective and provided a blanket health benefit to everyone regardless of financial status or insurance. The American Dental Association (ADA) states:

"Simply by drinking optimally fluoridated water, the entire community benefits regardless of age, socioeconomic status, educational attainment or other social variables.11 Community water fluoridation does not discriminate against anyone based on income, education or ethnicity. Fluoridation's benefits are realized without behavior change on the part of an individual. The benefits of water fluoridation are not limited to those with access to dental care."

With the advantages of fluoridation evident how could anyone refute the obvious benefits outlined by the ADA and others?

Those who oppose fluoridation do so for varying reasons. Some argue the health risks associated with over fluoridation while others concentrate on more intangible issues such as free will.

In several countries around the world the fluoridation of water has been linked to the condition known as fluorosis (Brown stained teeth). In this case the fluorosis is occurring because the diets (calcium intake) of the children involved are not nutritionally sound thus causing the condition.

The fluoridated water is also being linked to abhorrent physical diseases such as skeletal fluorosis a condition similar to osteoporosis, which causes the bones to become brittle and break in later life. The doses reported to be able to cause this disease are much less than the "amount of fluoride found in just 2 1/2 litres of water, and that's without counting the extra that today is inevitably found in foods, toothpaste, etc."

What the study does not mention is the hereditary disposition of those affected and the life time calcium intake. Other maladies such as cancer, Attention Deficit Disorder and mental retardation are also potentially linked to excessive fluoride ingestion.

The fluoride itself comes under fire from other critics. One website claims that "Fluoride acids are among the most corrosive chemicals known…. The fluoridation chemicals used in public water supplies are waste products of the aluminum and the phosphate fertilizer industries." Also stating that if the companies were "not allowed to put the waste into the water supply they would have to dispose of them as hazardous waste."

Perhaps a more irrefutable argument against fluoridation involves self-determination. David D. Smernoff Ph.D. has this to say on the matter:

"We object to mass fluoridation because it fundamentally erodes our constitutionally protected freedom to choose or refuse medication. Water fluoridation presumes to prescribe medication to every person regardless of dental need or medical consequence… fluoride should be administered to targeted populations, in regulated doses by properly trained medical professionals, not blithely added to drinking water as a panacea for poor dental hygiene."