The safety of fluoride has become a contentious issue and reading about opposing points of view can be confusing. Thought to be a good idea to add Fluoride to our water supply in the 1940’s, it is now found in many things we consume on a daily basis.
Fluoridation in our water supply
Fluoride is added to a large majority of community water supplies for the purpose of preventing cavities. Not recommended for infants under 6 months old, proponents believe it makes teeth stronger and more resistant to decay caused by acid and bacteria. Applying a sealant to children’s teeth is a procedure now used to reduce the inevitable cavity.
Safety
The amount of fluoride added to the water supply on it’s own is perfectly safe, you would have to ingest huge amounts of drinking water to absorb too much. A serious allergic reaction is highly unlikely but if you suspect that to be the case seek medical attention immediately. Stomach upset may occur from ingesting too much fluoride and if the effect persists contact a
Vancouver Children's Dentist or Pharmacy.
Teeth can become stained or pitted as a result of too much fluoride as well. Fluorides are more toxic than lead and only slightly less poisonous than arsenic and are commonly used in pesticides.
Too much of a good thing
Originally fluoride was added to the water supply to prevent cavities, it’s now present in all the major brands of toothpaste, dental treatments, baby formula, vitamin supplements, and certain foods often contain high Fluoride levels. The soil our food is grown in, teas, bottled water, soda’s and beer made using tap water all introduce fluoride into our bodies as well.
Avoidance
A Fluoride molecule is smaller than a water molecule so cannot be removed using a water filtration system, only distillation will work. Reverse Osmosis while expensive is capable of removing 80 - 90 % of the Fluoride from your water supply. In the future may see changes in many communities regarding the addition of Fluoride in our water, several European countries have said no to this practice. Complete avoidance in all it’s forms is impossible so staying away from processed foods and bottled drinks may be the best advice.
