Flouride

[Marianne]

I worked in the field of dentistry for 20 years and have no fear of fluoridated water. It hardens the teeth especially when they are forming, when children are growing up, their teeth can be made more resistant to decay from having a tiny amount in the water, and by having it applied to the outsides of their teeth. There are different types and concentrations of fluoride, some is for applying and some for consuming. It is something that is not to be used to excess. After age 16 or so, it is not as valuable anymore as teeth at that point are finished forming.

I do not think government should be automatically putting it into our water however. It should be a choice. But I'm more afraid of other things that we swallow willingly such as aspartame, MSG and other things added to my foods than in my water being fluoridated.

Ditto.
My kids teeth are a lot better than mine and I believe that part of it is because they grew up with fluoridated water and I didn't. I also worked in the dentistry field years ago.

Although I'm not in any of the 'that stuff will kill you' camps here, I am more afraid of pesticides, herbicides than purchased toothpaste and tap water.

 

[Beekissed]

Where's Pat when you need her??? I think I remember her telling us that flouride was a by-product of fertilizer manufacturing and they needed a place to put it way back when and decided to place it in all the water.

There is very little evidence that it does anything to prevent tooth decay and if you look closely at commercials that claim how much it does, it always has the line "than brushing alone", meaning than brushing entirely without any cleaner at all. Well, duh.

As one of nine children raised without any flouride in our water, I can honestly say that those of us who had cavities were genetically prone to have them and those who didn't were the same. Same food, same water, same hygiene....different smiles. Dad had great teeth and never had a cavity until he was up into his 60s and it was only one small one. Straight, strong teeth...and some of the kids had his teeth. Mom, on the other hand, had bad teeth...and several of us had her genetics~crooked, too crowded, cavities early on.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Where's Pat when you need her??? I think I remember her telling us that flouride was a by-product of fertilizer manufacturing and they needed a place to put it way back when and decided to place it in all the water.

There is very little evidence that it does anything to prevent tooth decay and if you look closely at commercials that claim how much it does, it always has the line "than brushing alone", meaning than brushing entirely without any cleaner at all. Well, duh.

As one of nine children raised without any flouride in our water, I can honestly say that those of us who had cavities were genetically prone to have them and those who didn't were the same. Same food, same water, same hygiene....different smiles. Dad had great teeth and never had a cavity until he was up into his 60s and it was only one small one. Straight, strong teeth...and some of the kids had his teeth. Mom, on the other hand, had bad teeth...and several of us had her genetics~crooked, too crowded, cavities early on.

What you are referencing is correct.
Also, the genetics you refer too (crooked teeth, etc.) only occur because of maternal diet.
If a mother is lacking in D and A during a pregnancy, her baby will have dental issues, both in structure and health.
We see this in a large family we know. a couple of the kids have tight and crowded mouths, and those children were bred during a time when the families nutrition was poor.
The others have excellent teeth, and they were bred in times when raw milk and home grown food was plentiful.

 

[tortoise]

I worked in the field of dentistry for 20 years and have no fear of fluoridated water. It hardens the teeth especially when they are forming, when children are growing up, their teeth can be made more resistant to decay from having a tiny amount in the water, and by having it applied to the outsides of their teeth. There are different types and concentrations of fluoride, some is for applying and some for consuming. It is something that is not to be used to excess. After age 16 or so, it is not as valuable anymore as teeth at that point are finished forming.

I do not think government should be automatically putting it into our water however. It should be a choice. But I'm more afraid of other things that we swallow willingly such as aspartame, MSG and other things added to my foods than in my water being fluoridated.

I asked about fluoride at my son's Dr. appointment last week. My Dr. told me the issue with fluoridated water is that it is chlorinated. Versus a fluoride supplement is sodium fluoride. We have well water; my son had supplements until he could use fluoride toothpaste.