Problems with fluoride?
By: Dr. Joseph Briscoe (Letter to the Editor) IrishTimes.com, Dublin, Ireland 01-Aug-2012
Sir, – Declan Waugh (July 31st), suggests very strongly that we should cease to have fluoridated water supplies. He quotes theoretical evidence that fluoride causes cancer, hip fractures, neurological diseases and even tooth damage. What nonsense! I doubt if any oncologist, neurologist or orthopaedic specialist would agree with him.
Having returned from England I started to practise dentistry in Dublin in 1954, I was horrified at the appalling dental condition of my patients. Each day I was confronted with mouths of rotting teeth. Many were beyond conservation and multiple extractions under general anaesthetic and dentures were the only treatment.
In the 1960s it became mandatory for local authorities to fluoridate their drinking water, one part per million. I lived and practised during the ensuing years and the change was bewildering. I started to see young teenagers with no decayed, filled or missing teeth. I have often told my friends and colleagues that I now practised during the golden days of conservative dentistry.
I have no doubt that if this minimal amount of fluoride were to be removed from our drinking water we should soon revert to an inevitable increase in tooth decay. – Yours, etc,
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2012/0801/1224321234975.html
Problems with fluoride
By: Dr. James Beck (Letter to the Editor) IrishTimes.com, Dublin, Ireland 02-Aug-2012
Sir, – Dr Joseph Briscoe (August 1st) objects to Declan Waugh’s argument on fluoridation (July 31st). Mr Waugh has studied the scientific literature thoroughly, as I have done. Associations between harms to humans and fluoridation is quite certain in the cases of four such adverse effects. Evidence for many other adverse effects is less certain but enough to prompt caution and further research, rather than continuing in the face of uncertainty. To respond to these facts with “What nonsense!” is irresponsible.
As for efficacy in prevention of cavities, of course we must respect Dr Briscoe’s personal experience, but it is not consistent with the data from large-scale, systematic studies which show very little or no benefit. The decrease in tooth decay from early 1960s to 2004 occurred equally in fluoridated and not fluoridated industrialised countries. And it is widely accepted now that any benefit is due to a direct effect on tooth enamel, not on swallowing fluoride.
Also many good studies have shown that cessation of fluoridation is followed by reduction in incidence of cavities or no change. – Yours, etc,
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2012/0803/1224321371050.html
ADA Confirms There Is No Evidence To Bottled Water Decay Claims
By: CosmeticDentistryGuide.co.uk, United Kingdom 03-Aug-2012
A spokesman for the American Dental Association has confirmed that there is no evidence to support claims in the media that bottled water is linked to tooth decay.
Dr Johnathan Shenkin said that there was no research to suggest that drinking bottled water causes tooth decay, despite claims in the media that rates of decay have risen as a result of people drinking water out of bottles, rather than the tap.
Fluoride Levels in Water
By: Dr. Jennifer Olson D.D.S (Guest Commentary) DoorCountryDailyNews.com, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin 29-Jul-2012
Here in Sturgeon Bay we use hydrofluosilicic acid which is used in about 90% of fluoridated cities. That chemical comes to us from the Mosaic Phosphate Fertilizer Company in Florida and has been classified as a hazardous waste product by the EPA
So you can see why it’s a heated topic.
I choose in my practice to use other avenues of prevention. We discuss a lot about nutrition since decay is largely a systemic problem. You need to keep your calcium and your phosphate ratio in balance, your thyroid and endocrine system healthy and inflammation down to a minimum.
Oral health is the window into your systemic health. We use products that contain the same minerals as the teeth to remineralize them and recommend Xylitol which is a natural sweetener that has been used for decades to help reduce plaque and prevent cavities.
It’s easy for kids to use the Xylitol because they love chewing gum and eating candy which has the Zylitol in it.
In the end water is an extremely important resource; it’s a local issue, which should involve the community as a whole to benefit all those affected by it.
http://www.doorcountydailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=28&id=40739
Application seeks WHO limits for packaged water
Contributor: Fuseworks Media, VOXY.co.nz, New Zealand Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for submissions on an application seeking to adopt World Health Organization (WHO) limits for chemicals in packaged water in the Food Standards Code 03-Aug-2012
FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said the Application, made by the Australasian Bottled Water Institute, sought to adopt limits set by WHO in its Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.
Mr McCutcheon said adopting the WHO limits would increase the number of chemicals with limits and would bring the requirements for packaged water in Australia and New Zealand into line with international standards.
“FSANZ is recommending adopting the WHO limits, with two exceptions. We are recommending maintaining the current lower limit for fluoride in packaged water and a marginally higher limit for styrene, which is used as a processing aid in packaged water.
“FSANZ has taken into account safety assessments conducted by expert advisors to WHO and FSANZ’s own assessments conducted for fluoride and styrene.
“We welcome comments from government agencies, public health professionals, industry and the community on this report,” Mr McCutcheon said.
The closing date for submissions is 13 September 2012.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/application-seeks-who-limits-packaged-water/5/130871
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