Water Fluoridation

With misinformation dissemination on the rise from those finding themselves in previously unfamiliar positions of authority, it is important to rely on accurate, proven information, especially in matters of health. Water fluoridation has long been the subject of conspiracy theory and other scare tactic infiltration with interjections and statements designed to forward a political agenda. That being said, if this has become a concern for you and your loved ones in recent times, I’d like to help by mythbusting and calming mass hysteria in an effort to help with health decisions of importance.

Information obtained in this edition of the Smile Files can be credited to Dr. Scott Tomar, associate professor of prevention and public health services and epidemiologist of the CDC. Fact: Fluoride in drinking water is a cheap and easy preventative measure for preventing tooth decay which saves thousands if not millions of dollars nationwide. Fluoride is a naturally occurring element in drinking water found to be highly effective in strengthening tooth enamel originally confirmed in studies of Native American populations. There exist areas in our country where fluoride content in natural water is low or non-existent. The addition of fluoride merely supplements existing levels to 1 part per million to replicate nature. Additionally, following an 80-year-old study and implementation of fluoridated water in Grand Rapids, MI, Evanston, IL, New York City, and Ontario, Canada, many other cities saw the positive result of a dramatic decrease in dental decay and followed suit with fluoridation.

The misinformation about the assumed effects of fluoride had started years before the addition to drinking water. No causal relationship has been shown to exist between fluoride and AIDS, immunity, bone cancer, autism, retardation, dementia, skin disorder (not even communist plots nor nuclear waste relation!). There has simply never been any real world evidence established to support this.

Unfortunately, in a post-COVID world, many are more receptive to conspiracy theories regarding vaccinations and healthcare. Politically speaking, there is no real interest in becoming educated from scientific research. Fluoride is in fact all around us—in the soil, rocks, seawater, and naturally occurring in foods. The freedom of choice argument is moot when one considers the implementation of seatbelt laws, iodized salt, and the addition of vitamin D to milk. The only motivations and aspirations in these examples are to protect the population from disease and injury, save US taxpayers and medical insurance utilizers millions of dollars with no adverse effects.

As dental providers with families, our primary concern is to prevent disease and public harm…so why would we advocate for a harmful substance to be given to the public? The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dental Association, American Medical Association, UK, and Australian health organizations and National Toxicology Reports all support fluoridation in water, as there are no proven adverse effects. While bottled water may seem like a healthy alternative, tap water is far more regulated for safety and contains fluoride, an important element for maintaining healthy teeth.