Arguments For
Tooth decay is considered to be the number one preventable illness plaguing our nation's children. Millions of hours of school are lost every year to the pain and suffering that children face when they have varying degrees of tooth decay. In some cases, tooth decay has lead to death, such as in the case of Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old boy from Prince George’s County, Md. Deamonte died from a brain infection that resulted from untreated tooth decay.
According to research, water fluoridated at 1.0 ppm has been shown to reduce the rate of tooth decay. Fluoridating water is meant as a preventive measure, to help those who may not be receiving regular dental care reduce their chances of forming cavities.
According to its website, The American Dental Association has supported water fluoridation for more than 40 years, as a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the International Association for Dental Research, the National PTA and the American Cancer Society all advocate water fluoridation as safe and effective. In 2000, the Surgeon General stated that "Community water fluoridation is safe and effective in preventing dental caries in both children and adults. Water fluoridation benefits all residents served by community water supplies regardless of their social or economic status."
Arguments Against
One of the first reasons many people oppose fluoride is because of the idea that water fluoridation is a means to mass-medicate the population. Opponents believe that because fluoride is added to the water, their is no reasonable way to supervise the amount of fluoride one is ingesting, and thus no way to monitor the potential for overexposure to fluoride. Almost every opponent to water fluoridation believes it should be up to the individual to decide whether or not they want to consume fluoride.
Now, based on the fact that many people have no choice but to drink fluoridated water, opponents believe that ingested fluoride is responsible to causing many incurable illnesses. Fluorosis of the enamel is one of the first signs of an overexposure to fluoride. Fluorosis generally occurs during the development of the enamel of the tooth. A tooth that had fluorosis appears uneven in color, appearing as whiter blotches on the surface of the tooth and in some cases, a brown ridge of stain along the whiter portions of discoloration -- also known as a mottled appearance. In some cases, fluorosis causes the enamel to become weak, resulting in an increased chance for tooth erosion and tooth decay. The first recorded examples of fluorosis date back to the early 1900's. Residents of Colorado Springs had an evident problem with their teeth. Know as "Colorado Stain," it was later determined that the mysterious discoloration was caused by a high concentration of fluoride in the water from the runoff from the Pike Peaks in the area.
The National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, known collectively as the National Academies, published a report in 2006 titled, "Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's Standards". The report listed the Academies' findings on a number of issues surrounding community water fluoridation. Key findings include:
- Severe enamel fluorosis is a toxic effect of overexposure to fluoride
- The main factor causing overexposure to fluoride is fluoridated water, including beverages and foods processed with fluoridated water.
- Exposure to fluoride levels over 4 mg/L in drinking water can cause irritation to the gastrointestinal system and affect renal tissues and function
- The committee concluded that the EPA fluoridation standard should be lowered below 4 mg/L
Where It Stands
Water fluoridation will always remain a hotly debatable topic. Do you know if your water supply is fluoridated? Whether you agree with water fluoridation or not, it is best to learn about the water in your community. If you choose not to drink fluoridated water, there are ways you can remove fluoride from your water. Drinking and cooking with bottled water that doesn't contain fluoride is another option for people to consider if their community is on a water fluoridation program.
Talk to your dentist or physician if you are concerned about the amount of fluoride you or your children are consuming.
Sources:
American Dental Association. Statement on Water Fluoridation Efficacy and Safety. http://www.ada.org/2109.aspx. Accessed October 26, 2010.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2008 Water Fluoridation Statistics. http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/statistics/2008stats.htm. Accessed October 26, 2010.
Colorado Springs Dental Society. History of Dentistry in the Pikes Peak Region. http://www.cs-ds.org/history.asp. Accessed October 26, 2010.
Environmental Protection Agency. Basic Information About Fluoride in Drinking Water. http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/fluoride.cfm">http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/fluoride.cfm. Accessed October 26, 2010.
Environmental Protection Agency. Statement Of Loretta Van Coppenolle - Environmental Protection Agency Aging Initiative Public Listening Session San Antonio, Texas April 8, 2003. http://www.epa.gov/agingepa/listening/2003/texas_vanCoppenolle.htm. Accessed October 26, 2010.
World Health Organization(WHO). Strategies and approaches in oral disease prevention and health promotion. http://www.who.int/oral_health/strategies/cont/en/index.html. Accessed October 26, 2010.
