Article reference: http://www.laleva.org/eng/2006/03/fluoride_does_not_prevent_tooth_decay.html

Fluoride Does Not Prevent Tooth Decay

Fluoride, as added to the water supply in many locations, is an industrial byproduct, and a hazardous one at that. The mineral is highly toxic but is promoted as a great way to avoid tooth decay. Only, it does not do what its proponents say.

A recent Doctor Yourself newsletter has the lowdown citing scientific studies that show fluoride is not effective for what it's claimed to do. Wonder how long it will take health authorities to catch on to the scam - or is there some other reason why fluoride is so liberally added to our drinks and the water we use?

From a recent "Doctor Yourself" newsletter (doctoryourself.com):

FLUORIDE IS NOT PREVENTING TOOTH DECAY

Fluoride is not stopping cavities and is causing discolored teeth. For example:

Researchers following children from birth in the Iowa Fluoride Study found almost double the dental fluorosis in early erupting permanent teeth of 9 year-olds drinking optimally fluoridated water compared to children drinking sub-optimally fluoridated water (41% vs. 21%); but no less tooth decay. (1)

Researchers found no significant relationship between fluoride exposure and cavities in permanent teeth of 6 to 9-year-olds in Campeche, Mexico (2). Previously, it was reported that 56% of this group has dental fluorosis. (3)

A U.S. national study reports cavity prevalence increased by 15% in 2 to 5-year-olds, in surveys taken between 1988-1994 and 1999-2002, (4) despite 60 years of water fluoridation reaching 2/3 of Americans on public water supplies and virtually 100% via the food supply. However, the Centers for Disease Control report that 1/3 to 1/2 of U.S. schoolchildren display dental fluorosis. (4a)

Another U.S. study shows that breastfed children have less cavities than non-breastfed. (5) even though breast milk has 100 times less fluoride than dentists claim is optimal to reduce cavities. Breastfeeding is also protective against fluorosis. (5a)

Although New York City fluoridated in 1965, NYC children of Chinese descent suffer a much higher prevalence and severity of tooth decay than the national average (63% vs 38%). (6)

About half of 7 to14-year-old children from fluoridated Rochester, NY, have cavities. Latino children had significantly higher caries experience than African-American and Caucasian children, thus indicating that disparities exist among different ethnic groups even when the water is fluoridated. (7)

In fluoridated Detroit, 91% of African American low-income children, 5 years and younger, have tooth decay. (8)

"Today, fluoridation puts American children at risk of dental fluorosis without any benefit of less tooth decay," says Paul Beeber, NYSCOF President and General Counsel. "And growing evidence links fluoride to hypersensitivities, bone damage, thyroid problems and more." (Contact Paul Beeber at nyscof@aol.com )

These studies add to a growing body of evidence pointing to fluoride's ineffectiveness and lack of safety. www.fluoridealert.org

SOURCE: NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof

Also see www.FluorideAction.Net

References:

(1) American Association for Dental Research (AADR) 35th Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL, March 8-11, 2006: Abstract # 0153 - Dental caries and fluorosis in relation to water fluoride levels, I Hong, SM Levy, J Warren, B Broffitt http://snipurl.com/n8hg

(2) AADR Abstract # 1995 - Cross-Sectional analysis of dental caries in children with mixed dentition, AA Vallejos-Sanchez, CE Mendina-Solis, JF Casanova-Rosado, G Maupome, AJ Casanova-Rosado, M Minaya-Sanchez http://snipurl.com/n8i9

(3) Prevalence of dental fluorosis and additional sources of exposure to fluoride as risk factors to dental fluorosis in schoolchildren of Campeche, Mexico, PR Beltran-Valladares, H Cocom-Tun, JF Casanova-Rosado, AA Vallejos-Sanchez, CE Medina-Solis, G Maupome, Rev Invest Clin. 2005 Uly-Aug;57(4):532-9
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

(4) AADR Abstract # 0458 - Trends in Dental Caries of Primary Teeth, United States, 1988-2002, F Jaramillo, E Beltran, L Barker, S Griffin, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://snipurl.com/n8jq

(4a) Beltrán-Aguilar et al. Surveillance for Dental Caries, Dental Sealants, Tooth Retention, Edentulism and Enamel Fluorosis - United States, 1988-1994 and 1999-2002. MMWR. CDC August 26, 2005 http://www.cdc.gov

(5) AADR Abstract # 0881 - No association between breastfeeding and early childhood caries: NHANES 1999-2002, H Iida, P Auinger, M Weitzman, RJ Billings http://snipurl.com/n8jw

(5a) Breastfeeding is Protective Against Dental Fluorosis in a Nonfluoridated Rural Area of Ontario, Canada, D Brothwell, H Limeback, Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 19, No. 4, 386-390 (2003) http://jhl.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/19/4/386

(6) AADR Abstract # 0l50 - Caries Experience among Chinese-American Children and Adolescents in Lower Manhattan, CH Chinn http://snipurl.com/n8k9

(7) AADR Abstract # 0478 - Dental Caries in Latino Elementary School Children, S Gajendra http://snipurl.com/n8lz

(8) AADR Abstract # 1992 - Severity of Dental Caries Among African American Children in Detroit, AI Ismail, M Tellez http://snipurl.com/n8m2

See also:

Fluoride Destroys Tooth Enamel: Chemistry Prof

Fluoride and IQ

Food, Not Fluoride, Reduces Cavities