Fluoride Has Harmful Effects on Dental Health
Ellery and Annice
January 12th, 2011
For five decades, scientists have recognized that fluoride affects children’s teeth.
Fluoride is made of a chemical, fluorine, a pale yellow, highly toxic and corrosive gas -- a gas which is a part of uranium, the substance used in making nuclear energy. In nature, fluorine is found and combined with minerals to become fluoride. Common household dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash, but also in plain drinking water. Other sources include baby formula, juice, beer, wine, processed cereal, soda, and tea.
Originally, fluoride was added to such materials to help protect teeth (generally the young teeth of children) from decay and germs. Recently, however, many white spots on teeth have been proven as a result of too much fluoride.
The federal government is trying to lower the amount of fluoride in our U.S drinking water for such reasons. Harmful effects of fluoride include lowering IQ through allowing the substance into a child's bloodstream, painful infections, and changing the shape and strength of teeth. Though they seem more serious, the main concern is that too much fluoride can cause irregular coloring and spots on children's teeth. This condition is called fluorosis. In a CDC study during 1986, roughly 23% of children between the ages of 12 and 15 had fluorosis, but when the study was repeated in 2004, that number had risen to 41%.
Not only is fluoride found in drinking water, but modern medicine has allowed access to is in many ways. Americans can now obtain fluoride in places such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, and prescription supplements. Because harmfully large amounts of toxic fluorine (fluoride) are in something used as frequently as toothpaste, adults and children are essentially putting "toxic goo" in their mouths everyday, causing great decay and damage to their oral health.
Remember when you first learned to brush your teeth? Did your parents tell you to never swallow the toothpaste? Let's hope so, because if not, you will have swallowed a substantial amount of toxic chemicals into your body. This issue has been going on for about 50 years, and so far it hasn't stopped. Next time you are drinking water from your sink or brushing your teeth, think about all of the toxic chemicals you have just put into your mouth!
Though there may be consequences for too much fluoride, a healthy amount has really helped dental health of teens -- the percentage of individual tooth decay has lowered from 90% to 60% in the last decade. Many doctors and dentists consider fluoride to be one of the top 10 public health accomplishments of the last century. Many children that grow up in a poor family with little or no dental care while eating a lot of sweets have much fewer cavities since fluoride is in every sip of water at school, home, work, the park, and any other place where the water comes from government pipes.
Fluoride is made of a chemical, fluorine, a pale yellow, highly toxic and corrosive gas -- a gas which is a part of uranium, the substance used in making nuclear energy. In nature, fluorine is found and combined with minerals to become fluoride. Common household dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash, but also in plain drinking water. Other sources include baby formula, juice, beer, wine, processed cereal, soda, and tea.
Originally, fluoride was added to such materials to help protect teeth (generally the young teeth of children) from decay and germs. Recently, however, many white spots on teeth have been proven as a result of too much fluoride.The federal government is trying to lower the amount of fluoride in our U.S drinking water for such reasons. Harmful effects of fluoride include lowering IQ through allowing the substance into a child's bloodstream, painful infections, and changing the shape and strength of teeth. Though they seem more serious, the main concern is that too much fluoride can cause irregular coloring and spots on children's teeth. This condition is called fluorosis. In a CDC study during 1986, roughly 23% of children between the ages of 12 and 15 had fluorosis, but when the study was repeated in 2004, that number had risen to 41%.
Fluoride was added to U.S water in the 1940s to help prevent tooth decay in children under eight years old. Since then, the recommended amount of fluoride in each liter is between .7 and 1.2 milligrams. The government is proposing that this amount should be lowered to a maximum of 0.7 milligrams per liter.
Not only is fluoride found in drinking water, but modern medicine has allowed access to is in many ways. Americans can now obtain fluoride in places such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, and prescription supplements. Because harmfully large amounts of toxic fluorine (fluoride) are in something used as frequently as toothpaste, adults and children are essentially putting "toxic goo" in their mouths everyday, causing great decay and damage to their oral health.
Remember when you first learned to brush your teeth? Did your parents tell you to never swallow the toothpaste? Let's hope so, because if not, you will have swallowed a substantial amount of toxic chemicals into your body. This issue has been going on for about 50 years, and so far it hasn't stopped. Next time you are drinking water from your sink or brushing your teeth, think about all of the toxic chemicals you have just put into your mouth!
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| A mild case of fluorosis |
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