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Government Takes a Bite Out of Water Fluoridation

On January 7, 2011, came the most encouraging news we’ve heard in over four decades – the Department of Health & Human Services has recognized that Americans may indeed be receiving too much fluoride, and that overexposure can cause dental fluorosis. The issue was reported by several news sources; among them National Public Radio, MSNBC.com and ABC News http://abcnews.go.com/Health/fluoride-recommendations-buck-decades-dental-health-practices/story?id=12564884. It is a surprising admission from officials who have touted fluoride as “safe and effective”. It is impossible, however, for them to ignore the fact that incidences of dental fluorosis in children have increased threefold over the past 50 years.

The fact that too much fluoride poses health risks is not news to those who have steadfastly sought to educate both elected officials and the public to the hazards of water fluoridation, and fought to keep our citizens free from mass medication and to be given better access to dental care. We must thank individuals such as Dr. Paul Connett, who has travelled extensively around the world to assist citizens fighting against unnecessary fluoridation, and whose website www.fluorideactionnetwork is the most comprehensive site for any fluoride related information. We also thank brave professionals like Dr. Hardy Limeback, a dental professional who suffered great ridicule from his peers for standing up to proclaim the truth about the efficacy of fluoridated drinking water. And sincere scientists like Dr. William Hirzy, former EPA chemist, who was fired from his post after presenting evidence backed by a union of scientists that water fluoridation should be halted.

Still, we must remain vigilant. The new recommendations from Health & Human Services are just that – recommendations. The EPA has already stated they may require up to two years to update their new findings. And the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and numerous communities within it, still view water fluoridation as the silver bullet to end tooth decay, despite proof to the contrary. Proponents continue to ignore potential health risks to babies, to the brain, thyroid gland and bones.

It was only in September of 2010 that the Boston Globe interviewed both Linda McLaren and Dr. Stephen Dean of Massachusetts Communities for Pure Water. In typical proponent fashion, we were given all of two lines in the article that proclaimed if children only had fluoride no one would have dental disease.

We must confront the fallacy of dental health through water fluoridation. Let’s continue to get the word out. Gather information from trusted sources. Speak to your local and state representatives and boards of health, and provide them with your info. Remember that they may be unaware of the new recommendations put forth this January.

We continue to believe that we should not be medicated through our water supply, that we all have the right to informed consent, and that we all should have access to proper dental care. And we believe that by working together we can finally be free of water fluoridation.

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