Water Fluoridation: good or bad?

[Crayz9000]

Well, as they drill into you in elementary Chemistry classes, fluorine is the most reactive element of the halogen family, and quickly reacts with calcium to form calcium fluoride, CaFl2.

However, many politicians and dentists are saying that fluoride in drinking water is a good thing, as it makes the bones "stronger."

So what's your take on this issue? I'm just wondering, since there IS a lot of hype surrounding the concept...

[Dalton]

Most of the hype is the belief that fluoride is actually some kind of hyper mind-control evil death chemical or something equally paranoid. I'm sure Sheppard would LOVE to educate you.

[Mr Flibble]

Well, as they drill into you in elementary Chemistry classes, fluoride is the most reactive element of the halogen family, and quickly reacts with calcium to form calcium fluoride, CaFl2.

However, many politicians and dentists are saying that fluoride in drinking water is a good thing, as it makes the bones "stronger."

So what's your take on this issue? I'm just wondering, since there IS a lot of hype surrounding the concept...

Actually that's not quite correct, Flourine is the most reactive halogen. Fluoride is an ion, Fl-. Just a little nitpick, but there is a difference between the two, mostly flouride is not looking to strip an electron off the nearest atom.

It has been shown in studies, which I was a participant in, flouridation of water does make a large difference in the protection of teeth.

This thread just gets me thinking of Dr Strangelove for some strange reason....

[Superman]

I have never head of a negative side effect associated with drinking flouridated water. Perhaps you could direct me to some studies?

[Mr Flibble]

I have never head of a negative side effect associated with drinking flouridated water. Perhaps you could direct me to some studies?

Was that directred at me? What I meant was that the study I participated in helped to protect teeth, especially in someone who is lazy like me, and few negative effects were found.

[Superman]

Ah, I see. I was once listening to some radio jock that said something like, "my father never wanted us to have flouridated water because he thought it was some kind of government conspiracy. Thousands of my dollars went to filling cavities later..."

Hardly scientific, but he feels he missed out.

[Alferd Packer]

I thought all city water (I.E. not from your own well) was flouridated?

[Superman]

That radio guy mentioned that he lived in a rural area and had a well.

[Crayz9000]

Actually that's not quite correct, Flourine is the most reactive halogen. Fluoride is an ion, Fl-. Just a little nitpick, but there is a difference between the two, mostly flouride is not looking to strip an electron off the nearest atom.

Eh, right, got that... thanks. I thought something was a little wrong there.

And, BTW, it's fluoride, not flouride

[Mr Flibble]

And, BTW, it's fluoride, not flouride

thats what I get for not paying attention to spelling

[Darth Wong]

I have never head of a negative side effect associated with drinking flouridated water. Perhaps you could direct me to some studies?

Was that directred at me? What I meant was that the study I participated in helped to protect teeth, especially in someone who is lazy like me, and few negative effects were found.

Could you please provide some more details on this study? I'm curious, because I've heard some criticize fluoride as being mildly toxic.

[Mr Flibble]

I have never head of a negative side effect associated with drinking flouridated water. Perhaps you could direct me to some studies?

Was that directred at me? What I meant was that the study I participated in helped to protect teeth, especially in someone who is lazy like me, and few negative effects were found.

Could you please provide some more details on this study? I'm curious, because I've heard some criticize fluoride as being mildly toxic.

I'll have to look it up, it was a long time ago. I should say i was a subject of the study rather than a researcher, but they gave us the results. I was a kid at the time, so my parents may still have a copy of them somewhere.

[TrailerParkJawa]

I thought all city water (I.E. not from your own well) was flouridated?

Flouridation is up to local water districts. Most of the water where I live is flouridated, but there are some towns that do not have it.

Hehe, anyone who played Steve Jackson's card game INWO will recognize the Fiendish Flouridators card as a reference to the idea that flouridating the water was believe to be communist plot by some circles.

[Joe]

Fluorine does reduce cavities in children; this is the only scientifically proven benefit of fluoride, I think. For adults, it doesn't do much, and it may be toxic. I'm not too crazy about it but there are bigger concerns out there.

[Trytostaydead]

Dear God. Fluorine is actually one of the most toxic substances to your body out there! Same goes with the shit they put in Diet colas and Red Bull.

[Stravo]

I think that the amount they put in the water is infestiesimally small and hardly toxic, plus many dentists say that teh state of kids teeth is better now than the last generation, so its obviously doing something right.

Also, older members of my family believe that there is something in American food that no one is talking about because if you look at the older generation that came from Cuba (my parents, aunts and uncles) and you look at the kids born here (me and my couisns) we are ALL significantly taller than our parents, every single one of us. Then you compare us to the same age group born in Cuba that comes here, they are all significantly shorter than we are. They older folks are absolutely convinced that there are some sort of growth hormones in the food here.

[RedImperator]

My water was flouridated, and I've never had a cavity. Take what you wish from that.

[Joe]

I think that the amount they put in the water is infestiesimally small and hardly toxic, plus many dentists say that teh state of kids teeth is better now than the last generation, so its obviously doing something right.

Also, older members of my family believe that there is something in American food that no one is talking about because if you look at the older generation that came from Cuba (my parents, aunts and uncles) and you look at the kids born here (me and my couisns) we are ALL significantly taller than our parents, every single one of us. Then you compare us to the same age group born in Cuba that comes here, they are all significantly shorter than we are. They older folks are absolutely convinced that there are some sort of growth hormones in the food here.

Well, obviously; look at Asian-Americans and Americans of Asian descent (and also those within other Western countries); they tend to be much taller than Asians still living in their native countries.

[Trytostaydead]

I think that the amount they put in the water is infestiesimally small and hardly toxic, plus many dentists say that teh state of kids teeth is better now than the last generation, so its obviously doing something right.

Also, older members of my family believe that there is something in American food that no one is talking about because if you look at the older generation that came from Cuba (my parents, aunts and uncles) and you look at the kids born here (me and my couisns) we are ALL significantly taller than our parents, every single one of us. Then you compare us to the same age group born in Cuba that comes here, they are all significantly shorter than we are. They older folks are absolutely convinced that there are some sort of growth hormones in the food here.

Well, obviously; look at Asian-Americans and Americans of Asian descent (and also those within other Western countries); they tend to be much taller than Asians still living in their native countries.

Called Milk.

[Trytostaydead]

For those wanting studies on the detrimental use of Fluoride:

Reversal of fluoride induced cell injury through elimination of fluoride and consumption of diet rich in essential nutrients and antioxidants.

Susheela AK, Bhatnagar M.

Fluorosis Research and Rural Development Foundation, Delhi, India. susheela@ndf.vsnl.net.in

The objective of the present communication is to address the issues concerning reversal of fluoride induced cell injury and disease (i.e. fluorosis) through the elimination of fluoride and consumption of a diet containing essential nutrients and antioxidants. Humans afflicted with fluorosis, as a result of consuming fluoride contaminated water or food, have been investigated. Hospital based diagnostic procedure for early detection of fluorosis, through retrieval of history, clinical complaints, testing of blood, urine and drinking water for fluoride using ion selective electrode technology, along with X-ray of the forearm have been carried out. Confirmed cases of fluorosis were introduced to an intervention protocol consisting of (1) provision of safe drinking water with fluoride levels less than 1 mg/L and (2) counselling on nutritional supplementation with focus on adequate intake of calcium, vitamins C, E and antioxidants. The patients were monitored at frequent intervals up to one year and the results are reported. With a standardized early diagnosis, elimination of fluoride intake and supplementation of a diet rich in essential nutrients and antioxidants, we have shown that the fluorosis can be reversed.

------------------------

Effect of fluoride exposure on synaptic structure of brain areas related to learning-memory in mice]

[Article in Chinese]

Zhang Z, Xu X, Shen X, Xu X.

Department of Biology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.

The learning-memory behavior was tested in mice on a Y-maze after drinking different concentration of sodium fluoride. The impairment on the structure of Gray 1 synaptic interface in the CA3 area of mice hippocampus were quantitatively analyzed by electron microscopy and computer image processing appliance. The main results are as follows: the learning ability of mice drinking high concentration of fluoride presented remarkable deterioration, the thickness of post-synaptic density (PSD) was decreased, and the width of synaptic cleft was remarkably increased. The results suggested that the impairment on the learning capability induced by fluorosis may be closely related with the pathological changes of synaptic structure in the brain of mice.

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Fluorides in the new millennium.

Padilla O, Davis MJ.

Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery, USA.

Water fluoridation is known to be the most successful public health measure of the 20th century. More than half a century later, we are still reaping the benefits of fluoridation. We now know that the most important mechanism of fluoride action occurs through daily low-dose exposures. The battle between demineralization and remineralization occurs constantly, and fluoride shifts the balance to the latter. This dynamic, daily process far supersedes the pre-eruptive fluoride incorporation in importance. Fluoride, however, is now available in a variety of very different forms, useful in waging the war on caries. Nevertheless, opponents of this therapeutic agent maintain that its widespread use should be curtailed. Although the benefits of fluoride can no longer be disputed, fluoride supplementation must be supported and approached with consideration of total fluoride exposure.

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There's about 740 articles that I searched up.. probably more under different search strings.

[TrailerParkJawa]

Lost of Asians do not drink milk, yet they are much taller. It has more to due with health care and an abundance of food in general.

[BlkbrryTheGreat]

If you want the Truth on Fluordation read the following article, I'm sure you'll be shocked.... shocked to the point of never drinking (fluoridated) tap water again and cursing the federal government (US) for quite some time.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/rothbard/ir/Ch59.html

[Knife]

This has been a serious issue in my state for a couple years now. I have heard scientists on both sides say their peace on it, including the nutball's who see conspiracies on both sides. Basicly, flouride is a good idea in the water in that it prevents alot of dental problems. The thing that I have against it, is that they are medicating the water supply and I think that is a bad precident. What next, vitamins are good for you, should we add them to the water supply? Minerals and other healthy items might end up in there too. I disagree with the delievery of the flouride but conceed that it is probably good for you.

[Trytostaydead]

This has been a serious issue in my state for a couple years now. I have heard scientists on both sides say their peace on it, including the nutball's who see conspiracies on both sides. Basicly, flouride is a good idea in the water in that it prevents alot of dental problems. The thing that I have against it, is that they are medicating the water supply and I think that is a bad precident. What next, vitamins are good for you, should we add them to the water supply? Minerals and other healthy items might end up in there too. I disagree with the delievery of the flouride but conceed that it is probably good for you.

Knife, the problem is not medicating the water. Fluoride is a toxic subtance.. numerous studies shows its negative effects on cellular and physiological functions. Maybe a little isn't too bad, like brushing your teeth, but if the entire water supply has fluoride, that's kind of a bad thing.

[Knife]

This has been a serious issue in my state for a couple years now. I have heard scientists on both sides say their peace on it, including the nutball's who see conspiracies on both sides. Basicly, flouride is a good idea in the water in that it prevents alot of dental problems. The thing that I have against it, is that they are medicating the water supply and I think that is a bad precident. What next, vitamins are good for you, should we add them to the water supply? Minerals and other healthy items might end up in there too. I disagree with the delievery of the flouride but conceed that it is probably good for you.

Knife, the problem is not medicating the water. Fluoride is a toxic subtance.. numerous studies shows its negative effects on cellular and physiological functions. Maybe a little isn't too bad, like brushing your teeth, but if the entire water supply has fluoride, that's kind of a bad thing.

I've seen evidence on both sides, and frankley I am on the fence on the issue of if it is bad for you or not or more like, if it helps more than it hurts you. What I was trying to address was that weather or not it is good for you, I disagree with the delievery system of it.