Do Not Add Fluoride To Your Water, Advises Florida's Surgeon General

Should you add fluoride to your water?

<span>Florida Surgeon General</span> Joseph Ladapo advised communities to reconsider adding <span>fluoride</span> to water. He described it as “neuropsychiatric risks associated with fluoride exposure". Ladapo acknowledged fluoride's proven benefits in reducing tooth decay, however, also pointed out the potential health risks, which may include a lowered IQ based on preliminary research.

Fluoride has always been a cornerstone of public health since its benefits in preventing cavities were established. Studies show that fluoride reduces tooth decay by 25%, which makes it one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century, notes the <a href="https://www.ada.org/resources/community-initiatives/fluoride-in-water" data-type="tilCustomLink" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" rel= "noopener nofollow noreferrer" target= "_blank">American dental Association</a> (ADA), the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/health-equity/index.html?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email#:~:text=Untreated%20cavities%20were%20almost%20three,10" data-type="tilCustomLink" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" rel= "noopener nofollow noreferrer" target= "_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC), and the <a href="https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/oral-health/fluoridation/" data-type="tilCustomLink" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" rel= "noopener nofollow noreferrer" target= "_blank">American Academy of Pediatrics</a>.

It is not only added to water, but it is also there in toothpaste, mouthwashes and professional dental treatments.

"Fluoride is a naturally occurring chemical compound present in groundwater, fresh and salt water, rainwater, soil, plants, and foods. Community water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the amount of fluoride in drinking water to a level recommended to prevent tooth decay. Historically, community water fluoridation was considered to be a method to systemically, through ingestion, deliver fluoride to all community members. However, currently, many municipalities across the U.S. and several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Sweden, have eliminated water fluoridation," reads the<a href="https://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2024/11/20241122-fluoridation-guidance.pr.html" data-type="tilCustomLink" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" rel= "noopener nofollow noreferrer" target= "_blank"> statement of General Dr Joseph A Ladapo</a>.

Dr Bruce Lanphear, a health sciences professor at Simon Fraser University in Canada, co-authored a 2019 study in Jama Pediatrics, titled: <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2748634" data-type="tilCustomLink" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" rel= "noopener nofollow noreferrer" target= "_blank">Association Between Maternal Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and IQ Scores in Offspring in Canada </a>links maternal consumption of fluoridated water during pregnancy to lower IQ levels in children.

The findings also raised concerns, due to which Lanphear stopped recommended fluoride, this is what rings the need for further research. "It is clear more research is necessary to address safety and efficacy concerns regarding community water fluoridation," he noted.

Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist and author of the health blog Your Local Epidemiologist however do not agree with Ladapo's stance. She noted that replacing community good for individualism is a "slippery slope". She also noted the role of fluoride in addressing oral health disparities.

While fluoride critics have grown more vocal in the recent years, but some are now questioning its safety. However, public health advocates also argue that fluoridated water still remains an essential for vulnerable populations. According to CDC, children who are from the lower-income families are nearly three times more likely to have untreated cavities than the wealthier kids of the same age. Nearly half of US children lacks regular dental care, and in such a case fluoridated water helps bridge the gap.

Some communities are reversing earlier decision to remove fluoride from water. In Buffalo, New York, residents discovered in early 2023 that their water had been free from fluoride since 2015. This is also the same time when parents reported a surge in childhood cavities and called to reinstate fluoride. By September 2024, fluoridation was restored in the city.

In September, a federal judge in California ruled that while there is no conclusive evidence to declare fluoridated water harmful, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must strengthen its fluoridation regulation.

The debate over fluoride highlights the challenges of balancing public health benefits with potential risks. While preliminary studies raise questions about fluoride’s long-term safety, decades of evidence highlight its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay.

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Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo advised communities to reconsider adding fluoride to water. He described it as “neuropsychiatric risks associated with fluoride exposure". Ladapo acknowledged fluoride's proven benefits in reducing tooth decay, however, also pointed out the potential health risks, which may include a lowered IQ based on preliminary research.Use of FluorideFluoride has always been a cornerstone of public health since its benefits in preventing cavities were established. Studies show that fluoride reduces tooth decay by 25%, which makes it one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century, notes the American dental Association (ADA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American Academy of Pediatrics.It is not only added to water, but it is also there in toothpaste, mouthwashes and professional dental treatments."Fluoride is a naturally occurring chemical compound present in groundwater, fresh and salt water, rainwater, soil, plants, and foods. Community water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the amount of fluoride in drinking water to a level recommended to prevent tooth decay. Historically, community water fluoridation was considered to be a method to systemically, through ingestion, deliver fluoride to all community members. However, currently, many municipalities across the U.S. and several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Sweden, have eliminated water fluoridation," reads the statement of General Dr Joseph A Ladapo.Is Fluoride Really Safe?Dr Bruce Lanphear, a health sciences professor at Simon Fraser University in Canada, co-authored a 2019 study in Jama Pediatrics, titled: Association Between Maternal Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and IQ Scores in Offspring in Canada links maternal consumption of fluoridated water during pregnancy to lower IQ levels in children.The findings also raised concerns, due to which Lanphear stopped recommended fluoride, this is what rings the need for further research. "It is clear more research is necessary to address safety and efficacy concerns regarding community water fluoridation," he noted.Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist and author of the health blog Your Local Epidemiologist however do not agree with Ladapo's stance. She noted that replacing community good for individualism is a "slippery slope". She also noted the role of fluoride in addressing oral health disparities.While fluoride critics have grown more vocal in the recent years, but some are now questioning its safety. However, public health advocates also argue that fluoridated water still remains an essential for vulnerable populations. According to CDC, children who are from the lower-income families are nearly three times more likely to have untreated cavities than the wealthier kids of the same age. Nearly half of US children lacks regular dental care, and in such a case fluoridated water helps bridge the gap.Are People Making Any Changes?Some communities are reversing earlier decision to remove fluoride from water. In Buffalo, New York, residents discovered in early 2023 that their water had been free from fluoride since 2015. This is also the same time when parents reported a surge in childhood cavities and called to reinstate fluoride. By September 2024, fluoridation was restored in the city.In September, a federal judge in California ruled that while there is no conclusive evidence to declare fluoridated water harmful, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must strengthen its fluoridation regulation.Risks And Benefits- A BalanceThe debate over fluoride highlights the challenges of balancing public health benefits with potential risks. While preliminary studies raise questions about fluoride’s long-term safety, decades of evidence highlight its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay.