Fluoridated water has historically been hailed by dentists as one of the greatest public health innovations of the 20th century. And while most doctors (73%) still support it, one dentist in four opposes adding fluoride to the public water supply.

“Tests show the current water supply & vegetables are saturated with the fluoride we already added,” said one concerned dentist.

Here are some more comments on water fluoridation:

“I think people are beginning to get too much from all the food and drinks that are made with fluoridated water, but stopping it entirely does not make sense either. It seemed a straightforward problem at one time, but now is more complicated.” (Texas dentist)

“The greatest single caries prevention method for all age groups.” (Tennessee dentist)

“Why put a drug in our water supply when not everyone needs it. What is next? Cholesterol medication, antidepressants, vitamins, etc. The argument could be made for any one of these to be added to the water supply. I want clean pure water to drink and for my family to drink just like nature intended.” (Louisiana dentist)

“I practice in the city that was the control in the original study of water fluoridation. After five years, fluoride was added to the water because of the benefits that were seen. Individuals in the surrounding rural areas do not have fluoride except on a prescription basis. There is a huge difference in the decay rate of the two groups.” (Michigan dentist)

“The government has lied to us. They would have us all believe that the ‘fluoride’ that they put in the water is the same as the pure pharmaceutical grade fluoride that is in toothpaste. It’s not. The ‘fluoride’ in the water is contaminated with heavy metals and all kinds of other things.” (Arizona dentist)

“We end up with too much fluoride if the water is fluoridated because our food gets fertilized in it, washed in it, cooked in it. So the same vegetable or lettuce has 5 times as much as just drinking a glass of water. Topical treatment is fine. Let people choose; it shouldn’t be mandated by government.” (Florida dentist)

“Water fluoridation remains one of the single most cost-effective public health measures taken to reduce a disease, that being dental caries. The increase in dental fluorosis seems to have more to do with the increasingly early use of fluoride toothpaste in children that are not supervised while brushing and are too young to avoid swallowing the toothpaste while brushing.” (South Carolina dental hygienist)

“There are much better, more dose controlled ways to receive fluoride for those who may want it.” (Canada dentist)

“Any slight benefits (and these only come from topical application, not ingestion as the CDC has admitted) are far outweighed by its ability to do health harm. Fluoride is a lifelong-accumulative systemic poison whatever way you try to slice it.” (Texas journalist)

NOTE: This survey attracted a record number of votes from non-dentists, but only dentists’ votes were used to compile the quantitative results. Comments from non-dentists have been included in the discussion section.

Read more: Fluoride in Water: Dentists Disagree on What’s Best for Dental Health

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