As a biologic and naturopathic dentist with more than 20 years of experience, the difference between fluoride applied topically to teeth versus systemic water fluoridation is substantial.
Topical applications reduce cavities, studies show. The journal Frontiers in Oral Health attributes the “principal mechanisms of reduced cavity rates in many populations of the world” to topical fluoride applications, such as toothpastes.
Water fluoridation has many problems. What’s added to public water supplies is not naturally occurring fluoride but chemical runoff. The dose in drinking water cannot be adjusted; an infant will receive a higher dose than an adult. Dose makes the poison.
When fluoride is applied topically, it can reduce the bacteria that cause cavities, but excess fluoride in the system can be harmful.
A 2021 study delineated the toxic effects of fluoride. Fluoride is retained in muscles and the skeletal system, causing atrophy and malformation of bones and teeth in high concentrations and over long periods of time. Chronic exposure causes death to mitochondria, which create energy and maintain immune health.
A 2024 study discussed other side effects like a reduced sperm count and infertility, necrosis of the liver, and damage to DNA and IQ. Effects to the brain include memory issues and neuronal death.
Fluoride competes with iodine for thyroid hormone production and might contribute to the rampant hypothyroidism present in our society today.
A federal court ruling in September landed another blow to water fluoridation. Judge Edward Chen ruled that current fluoride levels in U.S. drinking water, which are endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency, pose an unreasonable risk of reduced IQ in children.
I was privy to the depositions of EPA and U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials who admitted they have known for decades about the risks associated with high levels of fluoride. It was appalling to watch them admit their wrongdoing while shrugging off decades of malfeasance.
The important evidence was that no public health agency, including the EPA, FDA and World Health Organization could cite a scientific study showing exposure to fluoride at any amount is safe.
If we want to curb the increase in dental cavities, we must understand the root cause: Childhood cavities are the No. 1 chronic disease of childhood.
As a biologic and naturopathic dentist, my concern is that we are removing tooth structure and placing in composite resins that are not naturally occurring.
Today, we have 80,000 chemicals in our environment, which overwhelms our natural detox systems.
Our food contains 50 percent fewer nutrients than it did a generation ago. Added high fructose corn syrup and seed oils like canola, corn, safflower, soybean, etc., create toxic byproducts and destroy healthy gut bacteria necessary for proper digestion and immunity.
Chronic disease, including dental decay, continues to rise. Adding fluoride will not address the nutrient-poor diet and toxin exposures that cause and increase oxidative stress and the overall acidification of the body.
Our prehistoric ancestors did not exhibit decay or even crooked teeth. Early humans did not use toothbrushes or mouthwash. Their diet was rich in minerals and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K — the vital nutrients for healthy teeth, gums and bones. Weston A. Price, a dentist in the 1930s, tracked diets of native populations around the world and found all had an abundance of nutrients and enjoyed robust health into old age.
If we want to reduce decay, we need to think about what we are consuming, both through food and skin products. How balanced is our nervous system? What is our sleep quality and how well are we breathing? Mouth breathing, as opposed to nasal breathing, is a major risk factor for heart disease and increased acidity of the oral cavity, which leads to decay and gum disease.
Can we get back to eating whole foods, exercise, exposure to natural light and sleeping seven to eight hours per night?
These sound like simple solutions, but they are the systems in which the human body evolved. Our modern reliance on artificial foods and light has disrupted our natural circadian rhythms and, in my opinion, is the leading driver of chronic disease.
Topical fluoride and fluoridation of water supplies create vastly different outcomes. Not one study proves the safety of consumed fluoride. In fact, all toothpastes carry a poison control warning and a number to call if toothpaste is ingested.
Preventing cavities with fluoride is dependent on the administration, dose, individual weight and additional sources by which a person might be consuming fluoride. Dosage cannot be easily controlled in water and is often not accounted for when additionally prescribing topical fluoride.
This is the important information we must understand when making sweeping decisions that affect entire communities.