There are no studies that prove that the ingestion of fluoride is beneficial to a person’s health. Many people mistake correlation with causation. They see that since fluoride has been introduced to drinking water, the rates of dental cavities have also decreased. The correlation does not mean that the decrease was caused by the fluoride in water.
Records from the World Health Organization show that since fluoride has been added to the drinking water there has been a decrease in dental caries. Many factors resulted in the decreased rates; however, the greatest factor is the increase in dental hygiene around the world. Contrary to intuitive beliefs, third world countries saw just as significant decrease in dental caries as countries that added fluoride to their water! According to the World Health Organization,
Graphs of tooth decay trends for 12 year olds in 24 countries, prepared using the most recent World Health Organization data, show that the decline in dental decay in recent decades has been comparable in 16 nonfluoridated countries and 8 fluoridated countries which met the inclusion criteria of having (i) a mean annual per capita income in the year 2000 of US$10,000 or more, (ii) a population in the year 2000 of greater than 3 million, and (iii) suitable WHO caries data available. The WHO data do not support fluoridation as being a reason for the decline in dental decay in 12 year olds that has been occurring in recent decades.
WHO graph displaying rates of tooth decay from 1965 to 2005 between countries who have fluoride added to their water and countries who do not. It is visible here that the two countries with the lowest tooth decay rates are countries who do not have fluoride added to their water. Source: WHO
Fluoride is only effective when used topically!
The laboratory and epidemiologic research that has led to the better understanding of how fluoride prevents dental caries indicates that fluoride’s predominant effect is posteruptive and topical and that the effect depends on fluoride being in the right amount in the right place at the right time. (CDC)
Not only is the ingestion of fluoride insignificant to improving dental health, it can actually be dangerous! Many people do not know that fluoride is a toxic chemical that affects the neuropathy in the brain (Fluoride Action Network)! It has been shown to lower IQ and make people more susceptible to manipulation. Harvard University released a report on the study of Chinese children that concluded that “the higher the fluoride exposure, the lower the child’s IQ” (Digital Journal).
Fluoride has many harmful side effects that alter the brain chemistry. Source: Tuberose
A young man named Corey Sturmer is a victim of fluorosis caused by ingesting fluoride in his water. After learning of Sturmer’s condition, the I-Team with abc decided to research articles about fluoride in the water (ABC). They found that “some of the studies…funded by the government…suggest fluoride can be linked to brain, blood and bone deficiencies in humans”.
Fluoride: The Hard to Swallow Truth Documentary was created in May 2011. It contains many statistics regarding fluoride rates and cavities and aims to disclaim some common conceptions of fluoride. It is very interesting because it both provides thorough background information, as well as street interviews.
In an article from the WHO it is stated that “The beneficial and the detrimental effects of fluoride naturally present in water were well established by the early 1940s.” This statement in and of itself shows that there are negative effects of fluoride! The WHO goes on to state that “high levels of fluoride present in concentrations up to 10 mg l–1 were associated with dental fluorosis (yellowish or brownish striations or mottling of the enamel) while low levels of fluoride, less than 0.1 mg l–1, were associated with high levels of dental decay”.