Opponents, Parents Ask Tough Questions About Fluoride

ATLANTA -- For more than 60 years, fluoride has been added to our drinking water to help prevent cavities. But recent studies suggest that some children are ingesting too much, and it's causing permanent stains on their teeth.

The government is now considering whether to lower the recommended limit on fluoride in the water, but some opponents say that's not enough. They claim fluoridation at any level just doesn't make sense.

Last spring, CBS Atlanta introduced you to Daniel Stockin, a health advocate for an organization called The Lillie Center.

"Ingesting fluorides is like driving a Mack truck through a rose garden," Stockin said.

For more than a year, The Lillie Center has been educating people in Metro Atlanta about the potential dangers of fluoride. Stockin isn't the only one who's worried.

Soon after our story aired last February, CBS Atlanta received an email from Suzanne Turner, a mother of two in Woodstock. It read, "Why in the world is this toxic substance in our water supply?!"

"It caught my attention, and I started doing some research over the Internet and I was surprised at what I found," Turner said.

Ingesting too much fluoride as a child can lead to dental fluorosis, which is characterized by permanent staining or pitting of the teeth.

"A lot of folks think it's just, 'Oh, I've got bad hygiene, I've got cavities,' and they have no idea that these stains and these pits are actually caused by the fluorides they've ingested," Stockin said.

The problem, said Stockin, is that fluoride is nearly impossible to avoid. "When we started to fluoridate 50 plus years ago, water was the only source for the fluoride."

Now, it's everywhere. "In many beverages; it's in food; it's in toothpaste; it's in many pharmaceuticals," Turner said.

And according to Stockin, dental fluorosis may be the least of our worries.

"If fluorides do this to teeth, which are the hardest surfaces in your body, what do we think that they're doing to our soft tissues," he asked.

Turner's research on fluoride unearthed some frightening results. "Osteocarcoma, possible neurological effects, lower IQ in children," were just some of the potential dangers she found online.

Some experts believe fluoride may also harm our kidneys, bones and thyroid glands.

But Dr. Richard A. Smith , spokesperson for the Georgia Dental Association, disagrees.

Why you should use fluoride-free toothpaste | Have a Namaste

We’re always told that fluoride is good for us, but did you know that fluoride ingestion has been linked to neurological disorders and IQ deficiencies in children? Check your toothpaste tube — I’ll bet you didn’t know it has the word “poison” on it. If your toothpaste contains fluoride, it is required to carry a warning statement that reads,  “Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.” Is that something you really want to be putting in your mouth twice a day? Or the mouths of your children, who tend to use too much toothpaste and do not always spit or rinse their mouths after brushing?

Studies have shown that the benefits of fluoride are achieved only with topical application — not from ingestion. And yet most municipalities add fluoride to the tap water. Add this to the fluoride that’s in your toothpaste, and you could be setting your self up for fluoride side effects such as brain damage and reproductive issues.

That’s why I’m so glad our grocery store has started carrying fluoride-free toothpaste. I usually buy Tom’s of Maine for us adults and Burt’s Bees Kids “Berry Bee” fluoride-free toothpaste for the kiddo. The Burt’s Bees kids toothpaste is safe to swallow and uses cranberry extract to prevent bacteria from adhering to teeth and gums. It’s also free of SLS, artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, and sweeteners.  I’ve actually used it on occasion and was surprised at how clean my teeth felt; the berry flavor is neither too sweet nor overwhelming. And the last time I went to the dentist, my hygienist couldn’t stop raving about how healthy my teeth and gums were. I think she was a little surprised when I told her I was using fluoride-free toothpaste, but she said whatever I am doing, to keep it up. It’s a relief to know I can get fluoride-free toothpaste so easily, and I’ll never have to settle for the chemical-laden toxic products that line the shelves.

To learn more about the dangers of fluoride, visit the Fluoride Action Network or read my articles on the subject at Livestrong.com:

Natural Fluoride-free Toothpaste for Children

Side Effects of Fluoride

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