The Fluoridation of America
Fluoride’s history began in 1901 when a young east coast dental graduate discovered a strange dental condition in which Colorado native’s teeth were extremely brown and splotchy. He researched this unfamiliar condition and eventually came to discover that the mottled brown splotches were caused by fluoride, known today as fluorosis. The teeth affected by this browning, were also surprisingly resistant to decay. After extensive testing to determine fluorides safety and efficacy, the City Commission of Grand Rapids, Michigan voted to add fluoride to its water for research purposes. After 11 years of fluoridation, it was announced in a conference that cavity rates among children dropped more than 60 percent (Arnold 1957). This breakthrough revolutionized the industry making tooth decay for the very first time, a preventable disease (Story of Fluoridation). Since then, fluoride’s popularity has grown rapidly among the American culture. Its popularity has been so great, that it was recently hailed as one of America’s greatest achievements in public health (Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Oral Health Home). So what makes this common ingredient in toothpaste and water such a hot topic for debate? Pro-fluoridation advocates enthusiastically promote the use of fluoride and its benefit to consumers. Fluoride is considered the safest and most beneficial treatment used to prevent tooth decay since the 1970’s (Tucker 1-15). After studies discovered topical applications of fluoride less effective at preventing decay than ingestion, water fluoridation was incorporated in its circulation Pro-fluoride group’s claim that the fluoridation of water is beneficial to middle aged adults and older people. In addition to its endorsed health benefits, water fluoridation is considered the most cost effective method of fluoride distribution known today ("Community and Other Approaches to Promote Oral Health and Prevent Oral Disease" 7). Additionally, pro-fluoridation groups use the definition of fluoride to describe the fluoride found in today’s society.
In November of 1951, the National Research Counsel declared water fluoridation as “safe, effective, and beneficial.” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Oral Health Home) and the American Dental Association (ADA) still declares the safety of it on their website by stating “Look for the ADA Seal—your assurance that the product has been objectively evaluated for safety and effectiveness by an independent body of scientific experts, the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs” ("ADA Seal of Acceptance Program & Products"). Such reassurances would be sufficient for most except for the fact that fluoride is a toxic substance and only in acceptable levels, is safe ("ADA Fluoridation Policy & Statements”). The side effects of fluoride toxicity were first recognized among aluminum workers, the symptoms include chronic fatigue, headaches, dryness of throat, excessive water consumption, frequent need to urinate, urinary tract irritation, aches and stiffness similar to arthritic pain, muscular weakness, muscle spasms, tingling, stomach pains, bloody stools, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, tenderness in stomach, nausea, skin rash or itching, mouth sores, loss of mental acuity and ability to concentrate, depression, excessive nervousness, dizziness, tendency to lose balance and visual disturbances. http://www.fluorideresearch.org/CFTS/files/CFTS.pdf. The general population is now exposed to fluoride in drinking water, foods prepared with fluoridated water, seafood, tea, gelatin, breast milk or infant formula and or dental products. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002420.htm . The average adult dietary intake, including water, of fluoride ranges between 1.4 and 3.4 mg/day (4). Interestingly, acute and chronic oral exposure to high doses of sodium fluoride, typically >1 mg fluoride/kg, can result in nausea, vomiting, and gastric pain (7). Fluoride poisoning is very real and potentially serious, challenging the claims that it is in fact, safe.
Not long after the ADA determined that fluoride was effective at preventing dental caries and safe, fluoridation of water began. Although water fluoridation is promoted as the best means to distribute fluoride for the prevention of oral decay, there haven’t been any controlled trials to determine this http://www2.nidcr.nih.gov/sgr/sgrohweb/chap7.htm#fluoride. Water fluoridation is said to be beneficial in the prevention of cavities in older age groups due to gingival recession, or root exposure. It may be an effective means to for that, but a study conducted by the Indian Journal of Dental Research in 2007 found that increased fluoride exposure is directly linked to periodontal disease, or gum disease. http://www.enviro.ie/correspondence/21.11.2012/Communication%20on%20Fluoride%20Exposure%20and%20Periodontal%20Disease-Waugh%202012.pdf . The EPA has directly stated that fluoride in water can cause health problems if present in public or private water systems in amounts greater than recommended. They also state that, “Excessive consumption of fluoride over a lifetime may increase the likelihood of bone fractures, and may result in effects on bone leading to pain and tenderness, a condition called skeletal fluorosis. http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/fact_sheets/cwf_qa.htm#16 . Given this information, it is clear that the positive benefit of water fluoridation does not outweigh the various negative side effects. Claims that low income families and economically challenged groups benefit from water fluoridation as a means to prevent costly community disease are compared to restorative treat alone. (Garcia 1989) http://www2.nidcr.nih.gov/sgr/sgrohweb/chap7.htm#fluoride The cost of cosmetic treatment as a result of fluorosis is not included in that number. Additionally, the amount of fluoridated water consumed is significantly smaller than the amount used for domestic cleaning, landscaping and indoor plumbing http://www.fluoridealert.org/articles/absurdity/ . Despite that, if the cost of fluoridating public water systems was cheaper, it’s not mentioned that the fluoride in clinical trials was Sodium Fluoride instead of the instead of the hazardous industrial phosphate waste byproduct, Fluosilicic Acid (FSA). http://www.actionpa.org/fluoride/chemicals/shortagesandrisingcosts.html. The EPA’s broadly used definition for fluoride; “fluoride compounds are salts when the element, fluorine, combines with minerals in soil or rocks.” does not accurately portray the fluoride used today. According to the CDC, the FSA solution in water reacts with water or steam to produce toxic and corrosive fumes, and attacks glass and stoneware. It attacks many metals forming flammable and or explosive gasses. (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng1233.html). If this naturally occurring salt is so unwaveringly safe and recommended, why have at least 15 countries banned its use completely? (6). FSA is also a common ingredient in rat and cockroach poisons, anesthetics, hypnotics, psychiatric drugs, and military nerve gas. http://ccpurewater.org/Fluoride.html . The fluoride debate remains heated. Both sides are rivals trying to prove fluoride’s benefit versus its detriment on society. Regardless of the benefit, fluoride is not being handled in a way that enables safety or consideration to the public health. This lack of concern has many worried; for good cause. Whether it’s the financial repercussions associated with admitting that fluoride is harmful, or the influenced opinions of political groups and government agencies, fluoride in its modern day application needs to be reassessed. From cosmetics to chemical plant waste, fluoride overexposure is happening and with that, fluoride is becoming deadly.

(Arnold 1957)
Arnold, Francis. "Grand Rapids Fluoridation Study- Results Pertaining to the Eleventh Year of Fluoridation." Am J Public Health Nations Health. 47.5 (1957): 539-545.Web. 2 Jul. 2013. .

(Story of Fluoridation)
United States. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Story of Fluoridation. 2011. Web. . http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1551218/ ("Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Oral Health Home")
“CDC Honors 65 Years of Community Water Fluoridation." Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Oral Health Home.” (2012): n. page. Web. 2 Jul. 2013. .

(Tucker 1-15)
Tucker, Charlotte. "Health advocates fighting myths about fluoridation with science: Misinformation endangers oral health." Nation's Health.” 41.5 (2011): 1-15. Web. 2 Jul. 2013. .

(Community and Other Approaches to Promote Oral Health and Prevent Oral Disease 7.)
United States. Public Health Service. Community and Other Approaches to Promote Oral Health and Prevent Oral Disease. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2000. Web. .

("ADA Seal of Acceptance Program & Products")
United States. American Dental Association. ADA Seal of Acceptance Program & Products. 2013. Web.