FAQs Archive111
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What Are the Risks from Swallowing Fluoride?
Fluoride has long been known to be a very toxic substance. This is why, like arsenic, fluoride has been used in pesticides and rodenticides (to kill rats, insects, etc). It is also why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now requires that all fluoride toothpaste sold in the U.S. carry a poison warning that instructs users to […]
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If our water does not contain fluoride, should we give our child fluoride supplements?
Fluoride supplements were developed on the incorrect assumptions that fluoride is a nutrient and is effective when swallowed. Modern research has found that, while fluoride supplements greatly increase the risk of dental fluorosis, they do little to reduce tooth decay. Most western countries have thus begun to phase out the use of fluoride supplements, and even the American […]
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My child has dental fluorosis. What can we do to fix it?
The tooth discoloration that fluorosis causes can be reduced, and sometimes eliminated, through cosmetic treatment. Treatment options for fluorosis, however, will depend on the severity of the fluorosis. For more information on three common treatment options, click here.
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What can I do to minimize fluoride exposure for myself and my family?
For tips on how to reduce your fluoride exposure see: Top 10 Ways to Reduce Fluoride Exposure FAN’s Grocery Store Guide: 7 Ways to Avoid Fluoride in Beverages and Food Top 5 Ways to Reduce Fluoride Exposure from Infant Formula
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How do I avoid fluoride from my tap water?
If you live in a community that fluoridates its water supply, there are several options to avoid drinking the fluoride that is added. Unfortunately, each of these options will cost money (unless you happen to have access to a free source of spring water). The options include: Spring water: Most spring water contains very low […]
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Does fluoridated water reduce tooth decay?
If water fluoridation has a benefit, it is a minimal one. Recent large-scale studies from the United States have found little practical or statistical difference in tooth decay rates among children living in fluoridated versus non-fluoridated areas. In addition, data complied by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that tooth decay rates have declined just as […]
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Do we need fluoride?
No. It is now well established that fluoride is not an essential nutrient. This means that no human disease – including tooth decay – will result from a “deficiency” of fluoride. Fluoridating water supplies is therefore different than adding iodine to salt. Unlike fluoride, iodine is an essential nutrient (the body needs iodine to ensure the […]
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Why Is Fluoride Added to Water?
Fluoride is added to water to prevent cavities (tooth decay), a non-waterborne disease.
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Does Fluoride Occur Naturally in Water?
As a general rule, the only fresh water with high levels of fluoride (other than waters polluted by fluoride-emitting industries) is water derived from deep wells. Rather than being something to celebrate, high levels of naturally occurring fluorides have wreaked havoc on tens of millions of people’s health around the world. People consuming water with naturally high […]
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Where Does the Fluoride Added to Water Come from?
The main chemicals used to fluoridate drinking water are known as “silicofluorides” (i.e., hydrofluorosilicic acid and sodium fluorosilicate). Silicofluorides are not pharmaceutical-grade fluoride products; they are unprocessed industrial by-products of the phosphate fertilizer industry. Since these silicofluorides undergo no purification procedures, they can contain elevated levels of arsenic — moreso than any other water treatment chemical. In […]