Regarding your editorial, “Fluoridation takes bite out of tooth decay”:

It’s a fallacy that fluoridation has reduced tooth decay in the United States. After almost seven decades of water fluoridation, six decades of fluoridated toothpaste, a glut of fluoridated dental products, a fluoride saturated food supply, fluoridated pharmaceuticals and air emissions, the CDC reports up to 60 percent of adolescents are afflicted with fluoride-overdose symptoms (white spotted, yellow, brown and/or pitted teeth – dental fluorosis). Yet 51 percent have tooth decay, according to the CDC.

In fact, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, in his 2012 report, “Dental Crisis in America,” says 9,500 new dental providers are needed to meet current oral health needs.

Fluoridation began with the mistaken belief that ingested fluoride reduces tooth decay. The CDC reports fluoride hardens outer tooth enamel by topical means alone. Ingesting fluoride leads to adverse effects including dental fluorosis.

– Carol S. Kopf, Levittown, NY

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