“Doctor, I’d suggest fluoride treatment to protect your teeth,” my dentist said.

I agreed. After all, I’d been told since I was knee-high that fluoride prevents cavities. I’ve also used fluoride toothpaste for years.

But I recently decided to research this topic to see if there was a downside to this treatment. Now I know why Montreal males are better lovers than those in Toronto.

William, a 3-year-old Brooklyn boy, had his first dental checkup in 1974. Fluoride gel was spread over his teeth.

Following that he was handed a glass of water by the dental hygienist who failed to inform him to swish the solution in his mouth and spit it out. Instead, he drank the water and a few hours later he was dead from fluoride poisoning. Fluoride is an acute toxin with a rating higher than lead.

Next, I discovered that 98% of Europe is fluoride-free. Sweden, Germany, Norway, Holland, Denmark and France stopped using fluoridation over 25 years ago. These are not backward nations.

In 1980, a New Zealand dentist, an ardent supporter of fluoride therapy, was sent by the government on a world tour to study fluoridation. He returned an outspoken critic of the treatment.

Later, in 1999, Dr. Hardy Limeback, Professor of Dentistry at the University of Toronto, and former supporter of fluoridation, reported that fluoride may be destroying our bones, teeth and overall health. He claimed that children under 3 should never use fluoridated toothpaste, nor drink fluoridated water. And mothers should never use Toronto tap water to prepare baby formula.

The sole argument favouring fluoridation is that it does reduce tooth decay. But several studies involving as many as 480,000 children found no beneficial difference between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities. In fact, one study showed decay was greater in the fluoridated area! Moreover, dental health in Europe has improved since 1970 without fluoride.

PARENTS UNAWARE

Most parents are unaware of dental fluorosis, a discolouration of teeth due to excess fluoride. In 1940 this mottling condition occurred in 10% of children’s teeth. Today in some areas, it’s as high as 55%. One reason, children’s toothpaste tastes good and they swallow too much of it.

Dental fluorosis is the first indication that the body is getting excess fluoride. But bones also collect fluoride and can develop skeletal fluorosis. Since 1990 numerous studies have reported an association between fluoridated water and hip fractures. Fluoridation is also known to increase osteoporosis (brittle bones).

STRONG LINK

In 1992 a U.S. study found a strong link between fluoridation and osteosarcoma, a bone cancer in young males. The rates of this malignancy were three to seven times higher in fluoridated areas.

Other studies in China show reduced IQ in children overexposed to fluoride from drinking water. Further effects include decreased concentration, memory loss and confusion.

There’s also concern that fluoridation is implicated in Alzheimer’s disease since fluoride combines with aluminum to cross the blood brain barrier.

I didn’t know that Torontonians have double the fluoride levels in hip bones than Montrealers whose city water is not fluoridated. Studies also show that fluoride causes decreased levels of sperm and testosterone. I wonder if that explains the rumour that they make love in Montreal while Torontonians only think about making money.

Carl Sagan, the noted astronomer, was right when discussing “authoritarian” judgments. He remarked that “arguments from authority do not count; too many authorities have been mistaken too often.”

There is no convincing reason why water should contain 1.5 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride when our bodies have no use for it, and when its risk is greater than its benefit. Toothpaste has up to 1,500 ppm and treatment in a dentist’s office another whopping 10,000 to 20,000 ppm! Besides, unlike calcium, magnesium and other nutrients our bodies do not need fluoride.

The best solution is to ban fluoridation of water and buy toothpaste without fluoride. After all, the first rule of medicine is “Do no harm”. I finally found a non-fluoride toothpaste in a health food store. And I imagine you’ve guessed what I’ll say when next asked, “Do you want the fluoride treatment”.

Print PDF