The Ministry of Health says the case for adding fluoride to water is simple, it prevents tooth decay, but those opposing fluoridation say it’s a “lousy medical practise”.

Dr Paul Connett, the co-author of “the case against fluoride”, has just started a nationwide speaking tour warning against consuming fluoridated water.

Connett told TV One’s Breakfast that fluoride is a very toxic substance and babies especially shouldn’t consume it.

“There is no known chemical reaction in the body that needs fluoride, but there are many that are harmed by fluoride.

“It makes the bones more brittle, it causes symptoms like arthritis for lifetime exposure but the most worrying thing I think is the impact on the developing brain,” says Connett.

But most Kiwis don’t have a choice with a third of New Zealand councils using the fluoridation method.

“Once you put fluoride in the water you can’t control the dose, you can’t control who gets it and you’re forcing it on people who don’t want it.

Connett believes any doctor who supports fluoridation should be ashamed of themselves.

“It’s a bad medical practise and it violates the individual’s right to inform consent.”

There have been 36 studies conducted, mostly from China, which show a lowering of IQ in children with fairly modest exposure to fluoride.

But the Ministry of Health said fluoridation of water prevents up to 270,000 decayed, missing and filled teeth every year.

On top of that they says it is affordable with no health risks.

Connett argues the only reason it is affordable is because they’re putting industrial grade hazardous wastes into drinking water and if they were to use pharmaceutical grade they couldn’t afford it.

Print PDF