Is our WATER OK? The Fluoride Debate

Fluoride, Fluoride, Fluoride everywhere and not a drop to drink.  Fluoride is back in the news again and many theories are swirling around. Is our water OK?

Fluoride is a mineral found naturally in the earth’s crust.  It’s found in soil, water, plants and other foods.  Most of the fluoride people consume comes from water, food and beverage prepared with water and toothpaste and other dental products.

Fluoride is found naturally dissolved in groundwater around the world. Sometimes in low levels and sometimes in high levels depending on the local geology.  Galveston does not add fluoride to their water.  It naturally has a safe amount.  Some areas of the earth’s groundwater have high levels.  Early in the 20^th century, a dentist in Colorado discovered that fluoride in the local water was causing discoloration of teeth…however these teeth were resistant to decay.  By the late 1930s it was found that lower levels would not stain teeth but would protect them against decay.

Once this knowledge was known public health officials in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1945 introduced fluoride in the drinking water.  They were the first city in the world to do this.  Scientists at the National Institutes of Health monitored the dental health of 30,000 Grand Rapids school children and found dramatic results.  The rates of dental cavities among children born after fluoride was added was more the 60% lower than that of their older peers.

Fluoridated tooth paste first became available in the 1950’s.  According to the CDC community water fluoridation safely and inexpensively reduced cavities in children by 40-70% and tooth loss in adults by 40-60 % between 1945 and 1999.

A recent study by the National Toxicology Program focused on fluoride and neurodevelopment.  It showed a link between exposure to high levels of fluoride and lower IQ in children. It’s important to note that the fluoride levels in these studies were all conducted overseas and were at or above 1.5 mg/liter, more than double the amount in US water systems.

Recent studies in Australia and the US show that fluoride at the current level in US water systems is NOT associated with lower IQ in kids.  In one study using spot maternal urine fluoride measurements found that the male offspring of those mothers found to have elevated levels of fluoride in their urine, had slightly lower IQ scores… but only in boys.  Another study on offspring of mother’s with higher levels of fluoride had slightly higher IQ measurements in boys but not girls.

Since 1945 some people have been very afraid on having fluoride added to their water.  Sometimes they are upset because it is in the water without their permission.  It seems that as long as it is below the recognized “safe” level of 1.5 mg/liter there is great benefit and low risk.  In Galveston the amount of fluoride in water naturally is well below the safe level and using dental products such as tooth paste, gels, and mouthwash with fluoride is safe and good for teeth.