Brief History of Fluoride

The addition of fluoride to water was initially done in 1940 as a Public Health measure by the government to help reduce the rates of dental canaries, especially among the poor. It was thought that ingesting fluoride would strengthen teeth from the inside out. Although the original intention was for the benefit of the population, new discoveries of the harmful effects of fluoride should cause officials to reassess the actual benefits of fluoride in the water. It has been discovered that ingested fluoride does not actually contribute to the improvement in tooth enamel. In fact, ingestion of fluoride can cause many problems, the least severe is fluorosis, and the most severe is skeletal fluorosis caused by fluoride overdose (WHO, pg. 34).

The demographic of lower socioeconomic families are actually at greater risk for the harmful effects of fluoride because they often have no other liquid to drink besides tap water. This fluoridated tap water is added to formula to make bottles for babies which harms the poor even further. Infants are at especially high risk for getting fluorosis and both the CDC and the WHO strongly caution against using any type of fluoridated water in making formula for their babies. Infants are more susceptible to fluorosis because “in infants about 80 to 90 per cent of the absorbed fluoride is retained but in adults this level falls to about 60 per cent” (WHO).

The goal to improve the health of people in lower socio-economic classes essentially backfired with the introduction of fluoride to the drinking water because these families have no other water to put in their baby’s formula. Instead of buying a filter that can remove the fluoride from water, they must use the tap water. The excess fluoride in the water leads to numerous health defects. Tourney states,

Whatever may be said for fluoridation as a matter of public health, the program is a patent invasion of private rights—specifically, the right of each individual to control the medicine he takes. (The Skeptic’s Dictionary)

Have you ever wondered why the back of your toothpaste bottle has a warning on it! It says if ingested contact poison control! That is because most toothpastes contain fluoride and if fluoride is ingested it is dangerous!