– By Joanna Beujekian-Steven
Fluoride is one of those minerals with a very high status in most people’s minds, when in fact it is something we should try to avoid to a certain extent. When I say “fluoride”, what comes to your mind? Maybe strong teeth, reduced risk of cavities, etc. In this Debunking the Myth post, I want to focus on 4 important points.
1) Fluoride is a potent carcinogen,
2) Fluoride only protects teeth to a certain extent, and then actually causes cavities,
3) Water filtering pitchers such as Pur and Brita do not filter out fluoride,
4) We get enough fluoride every day without needing fluorinated toothpastes.
1) Fluoride is a potent carcinogen
As Dean Burk, Ph.D. former head of the National Cancer Institute’s cytochemistry section chief chemist emeritus at the U.S. National Institute puts it, “In point of fact, fluorine causes more human cancer death, and causes it faster, than any other chemical.”
There seems to be evidence of a relationship between osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and fluoride intake in males, as reported in the paper Fluoride Exposure in Drinking Water and Osteosarcoma (Bassin et al., 2006). While a single study is most definitely not enough to confirm such a hypothesis, I think it still gives us enough reasonable doubt to limit our exposure to fluoride.
Before that, Dean Burk reported in his research that “We took the ten largest cities that had been fluoridated and compared them with the ten largest cities that had not been fluoridated. The fluoridation didn’t start until 1952 to 1956, and has been continued ever since in the fluoridated group. Between 1940 and 1952 these two groups were identical, could not be distinguished on this curve. But from 1952 on, the curves have been continually widening to the point that there’s now a difference of approximately 35,000 a year. There’s no question about the data or our particular arrangement of it. The data is from government sources, which any high school student can look up and confirm. Nearly all of the fluoridation-linked cancer deaths are found to begin at the age of about 45 and then steadily increase with age. This situation is sharply different from the increased cancer deaths resulting from cigarette smoking, asbestos or hormones given to expectant mothers. Here a lag of 15 to 30 years is common. Increased death rates due to fluoridated water commence within a few years after initiation of fluoridation with marked continued increase thereafter.”
Fluoridation is actually banned in many countries, including Sweden where their Chief Government Inspector said that “drinking water fluoridation in Sweden is not allowed since the repeal in 1971 of the Drinking Water Fluoridation Act issued 1962,” in Finland, the Acting Managing Direction of Helsinki Water said “we do not favor or recommend fluoridation of drinking water. There are better ways of providing the fluoride our teeth need,” and many other countries.
Go to your city’s Internet page and look for fluoride levels in your drinking water. Levels less than 1 ppm are OK, and you can limit your fluoride intake elsewhere. If your municipal water registers more than 1 ppm, I would voice your concerns to the people in charge. Be sure to have sound arguments to support your request to lower fluoride levels.
2) Fluoride only protects teeth to a certain extent, and then actually causes cavities
Now, you might say that the benefits outweigh the risks, and that you are willing to risk a potential increase in your likelihood of getting cancer if millions of children and adults are protected from getting cavities. Personally, I’d rather find ways that are completely safe to protect my teeth rather than weigh pros and cons, but this is irrelevant. What you should know however is that there is such a thing as too much fluoride, fluoride is ingested in levels that are usually very high, and the higher the level is, the more likely you are of getting cavities.
When children get more fluoride than they should (when the levels are higher than 1 ppm), they are at increased risk of fluorosis, a dental condition where too much fluoride causes teeth to get white streaks in its mild form, and to turn brown and crack in its worst form. I have seen pictures of teeth with fluorosis, and I know I have seen kids with such teeth. Do not believe blindly that fluoride will protect your teeth, and the more the better! The National Institute of Dental Research conducted a survey between 1987 and 2005, and found rising rates of fluorosis.
3) Water filtering pitchers such as Pur and Brita do not filter out fluoride
When I got a water filtering pitcher for my husband’s grandparents, they revealed they were weary of using it because it filters out fluoride, and their dentist had lectured them extensively on the benefits of getting enough fluoride in their diet. I did not have the patience to start a lecture on the cancer/fluoride or even fluoride/fluorosis relationship, and said nothing. I did resolve to get one of those pitchers myself though, it it was indeed true that they filtered out fluoride! Well, as I found out shortly after, they do not.
Brita reports in their FAQ: “Brita® Pitchers/Dispensers have been tested and verified to remove only a trace amount of fluoride over the life of a filter.” They are then happy to provide you with a link explaining why fluoride is important for your child. How convenient.
If you wish to remove fluoride from your drinking water, for example if the level is too high and your city won’t consider lowering it, you might consider drinking distilled water or water purified by reverse osmosis. Remember to remineralize it after purification!
4) We get enough fluoride every day without needing fluorinated toothpastes (Data obtained from the Linus Pauling Institute)
Remember that children age 9-13 need about 2.0 mg of fluoride, and only 1.0 mg for children age 4-8.. They are at an age where they are at higher risk of getting dental cavities due to generally poor eating habits. I think less is needed if they eat good food and learn proper dental hygiene habits. Please note:
– If you drink tap water, you’re most likely getting fluoride (up to 2.4 mg per 2 L).
So, if an 8 year old child drinks 4 cups of water, that’s all they need.
– If you drink black tea, you’re most likely getting fluoride (up to 1.2 mg per 200 ml)
If you’re an adult who drinks your 8 cups of water (2.4 mg) and drink a cup of black tea a day (1.2 mg), that’s all you need.
– If you eat fish preserved in tins, or chicken, you’re most likely getting fluoride (up to 0.2 mg for about 6 ounces). Note that I don’t recommend you eat those 🙂
So, what about alternatives?
Personally, I can’t afford fancy water purifiers and do use those Pur/Brita pitchers. I know I am getting fluoride through my water this way.
To make up for it, I don’t use toothpastes with fluoride (I love Tom’s of Maine no-fluoride toothpaste. The one flavored with fennel is heavenly, and I’ll bring tubes for my family when I see them this summer 🙂
Some people use soap products such as Tooth Soap, which technically are better because they don’t contain glycerin, thereby allowing your teeth to absorb more minerals from your food, but I am not a big fan. I prefer “real” toothpaste.
And of course, take care of your teeth! Don’t drink overly acidic sodas, do brush after each meal, do floss every day. When I told my dentist I flossed every day, twice a day, she laughed and said I flossed more than all of America. Seriously? Flossing is important! I also see my dentist every year for a check-up.
Take good care of your teeth, eat well, don’t ingest too much fluoride, and you’ll be doing your body a huge favor… and you most likely won’t be getting any cavities either!