But is adding a deadly toxin to the water supply a good idea?
Finding the truth in this matter is not hard. However convincing the general public is another story. Along with other outdated medical practices of the 1950s, fluoridation does more harm than good. However unlike lobotomies and forced sterilization, the practice of adding fluoride to public water supplies is still going strong.
Here are some key considerations and questions for anyone that is receiving fluoridated water:
Logic, reason and facts don't seem to resonate with a lot of the decision-makers who still claim that water fluoridation is 'safe and effective', which in fact it is neither. Brushing your teeth is an effective way to health, whereas drinking fluoride does very little for your teeth and has questionable effects on your internal organs.
Here are the main reasons to disagree with fluoridation:
1. Unethical mass medication- People have a right to choose what to put in their bodies, and should expect pure and clean water provided from the city. As well, people all respond differently to drugs and could be more harmful in some individuals than others.
2. It's illogical - About the same amount of sense as drinking your toothpaste, why are you ingesting something meant to strengthen your teeth? Would you ingest cream intended for your skin, or hair? It's nonsensical and goes unquestioned.
3. The practice is outdated and its supporters are intellectually lazy - I have to add this one because it's just a fact. The idea of fluoridation was conceived when fluoridated toothpaste was a luxury. Nowadays we realize that fluoridated countries have more cavities than non-fluoridated ones. Could it be the real factors are quality of dental care, diet and personal hygiene? No, just add some toxic halogens to everyone's water, that will do the trick. It didn't.
4. It is proven to be harmful - The science continues to pile up and you can easily research it yourself. I will add a link to just one of the most recent findings here where scientists in Canada and Mexico discovered a link between ingesting fluoride and developmental problems in children.
5. Water should be pure - Where does the line end? Why not add beneficial vitamins and minerals to the water, like Iodine and Calcium? Indeed, most cities are worried about getting impurities out of their water instead of deliberately adding them. To avoid this moral quandry, simply ensuring people receive pure and clean water is a good start.
So, what's the conspiracy? The mining industry had to dispose of their toxic waste product, hexafluorosilicic acid. Eventually this garbage became gold when there was a new market - public water supplies. Slowly, countries are deciding against fluoridation. Only a small percentage of the world's population continues to get fluoridated water.
India - Fluoride toxicity in water supplies is a continuous problem in areas with high fluoride-containing minerals in the water table. Government authorities in those states are tasked with installing fluoridation removing equipment to get fluoride levels down to a drinkable level. Dental and skeletal fluorisis continues to be a serious issue for Indian public health in affected areas.
China - Adding fluoride is banned in the drinking water.
Japan - Instead of water fluoridation, schoolchildren participate in a fluoride mouth rinse program.
Germany - No water fluoridation.
Numerous countries have managed to conquer dental hygiene issues without resorting to dumping fluoride into everyone's water. Why should we continue using an outdated, misguided, unethical, unproven and harmful policy such as adding fluoride to the water supply? Canada is in the process of slowly getting rid of its water fluoridation, and other countries will slowly follow. The aluminum, phosphate and chemical companies will have to devise a new way to get rid of their toxic waste.
To those that still promote fluoridation of water: Give up, you lost. Go find something productive to do, like defending lead paint and asbestos.
