SWIG's Analysis: The Case For Fluoridation Does Not Hold Up
Sonoma County Health Services Department's current campaign to fluoridate the Sonoma County Water Agency water that goes to most of its cities is aimed to improve children's dental health. This is a very worthy goal, but World Health Organization (WHO) data show that tooth decay levels have declined everywhere, even in countries that never have fluoridated their drinking water or salt.
Although many US, California, and local medical and dental organizations assert that fluoridation is backed by clear and well established science, the Sebastopol Water Information Group (SWiG) has discovered many worldwide studies that do not support the case for fluoridation, including a 1990 study of 39,000 children (ages 5 to 17) in 84 U.S. communities that found less than 0.5% fewer decayed tooth surfaces in lifelong fluoridated water drinkers than in lifelong non-fluoridated water drinkers; and a 2009 study of 607 Iowa children (ages 0 to 13) that found minimal correlation between tooth decay and the level of fluoride ingested from all sources.
Similar studies from Finland, the former East Germany, Cuba, and Canada reported virtually identical levels of decayed sites in the teeth of children raised on fluoridated and non-fluoridated water.
In contrast, SWiG has found studies that show a clear correlation between ingesting fluoride from food and drink with disfiguring dental fluorosis, and evidence that fluoride intake may weaken bones and cause other health effects.
SWiG has also found a 1999 U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that stated: "fluoride prevents dental caries predominantly after eruption of the tooth and its actions primarily are topical." This contradicts the belief that fluoride strengthens the enamel during early tooth development.
SWiG also discovered a 2006 National Research Council report that found relatively low levels of fluoride can cause harm to teeth, bones, brains, and endocrine systems, and that there are many unanswered questions. The NRC also estimated that infants drinking formula made with fluoridated water could ingest up to 9 times more fluoride than nursing infants whose mothers drink fluoridated water. Children also may ingest fluoride from toothpaste and some food products. More studies and information are at https://www.fluoridefreesonomacounty.org/.
Why then are medical and dental authorities pushing fluoridation upon us before researchers have carefully and thoroughly re-examined all potential toxic effects of drinking fluoride?
SWiG believes that before fluoridating its water, Sonoma County must require better evidence from carefully controlled scientific studies, to prove that drinking fluoride is effective for preventing dental caries, and will have no other negative health effects.
Jane Nielson, Ph.D., PG
Sebastopol Water Information Group
