Fluoride in the Water

I have to gather my thoughts on this and will give it my all later today, as for now the laundry and children beckon, read on this research and let me know what you think! FLUORIDE!!!!!

Water Fluoridation & Tooth Decay :

1) The addition of fluoride to water for the purpose of preventing tooth decay began in the 1940s with the belief that fluoride's primary benefit came from ingestion of fluoride during the tooth-forming years. It is now acknowledged by the dental research community, however, that fluoride's primary benefit comes from topical contact with teeth, and not from ingestion as previously assumed. It is also now acknowledged that fluoride is ineffective at preventing tooth decay in the pits & fissures of teeth - where the majority of decay occurs.

2) It is well recognized that tooth decay rates declined quite dramatically in all western countries in the latter half of the 20th century - irrespective of whether the country fluoridated its water or not. Today, tooth decay rates thoughout continental western Europe - where 98% of the population does not drink fluoridated water - are as low as the tooth decay rates in the United States, where a majority of the population drinks fluoridated water.

3) Within countries that fluoridate their water, recent large-scale surveys of dental health - utilizing modern scientific methods not employed in the early surveys from the 1930s-1950s - have found little difference in tooth decay , including "baby bottle tooth decay", between fluoridated and unfluoridated communities.

4) The largest dental survey ever conducted in the United States, by the National Institute of Dental Research in 1986-87, found no difference in Decayed, Missing & Filled Teeth, and a minimal difference in Decayed, Missing & Filled Surfaces among children who had lived their entire lives in a fluoridated or unfluoridated community.

5) Since 2000, four studies have reported that tooth decay does not increase, but continues to decrease, after water fluoridation is stopped.

6) Water fluoridation is often promoted as a means of preventing dental crises within low-income populations. It is becoming evident, however, that water fluoridation has been ineffective at preventing widespread tooth decay in poor urban areas of the United States - most of which have been fluoridated for 20 to 50 years.

Article on the web.