Answer: it is bad
Explanation: Sherrod Beall, in a recent letter (“Base fluoride policy on science, please,” Oct. 8), supports fluoride in our drinking water and feels that there isn’t enough science to show that it is toxic.
In 2015, the Cochrane Collaboration, a global independent network of health care professionals and researchers, known for meticulous scientific reviews of public health policies, published an analysis of 20 crucial studies on water fluoridation. They concluded the early scientific studies on fluoridation (most were conducted before 1975) were deeply flawed. Countries that do not fluoridate water have also seen drops in cavity rates.
While 70% of the U.S. fluoridates public drinking supplies, most modernized nations actually ban fluoride from their drinking water. Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Norway and the Netherlands all refuse to use it for consumption. The U.S. is one of the only developed countries that fluoridate their citizens’ drinking water.
Toronto has been fluoridating its drinking water for 50-plus years, yet has a higher cavity rate than Vancouver, which does not fluoridate!
Cavity rates are low all across the industrialized world, including Europe, which is 90% fluoride-free. The rates are low because of regular dental checkups, flossing and frequent brushing, and improved standards of living. The World Health Organization‘s data from 1970-2010 states that in non-fluoridated and fluoridated countries, tooth decay rates of 12-year-olds declined at the same rate.
The intake of fluoride has never been tested for safety on humans! Children and adults who use fluoride toothpastes, mouthwashes, gels and supplements are far exceeding the recommended intake. The warning on the labels of these items states to, “Call Poison Control if Ingested!“ This is mind-blowing, blind-eyed logic for sure.
