Over-exposure to fluoride is common and may cause a variety of serious side effects, including dental fluorosis (permanent discoloration of enamel), thyroid disease, kidney disease, and lowered IQ in children, just to name a few. Now, a new study links fluoride consumption with increased rates of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among children.
Is adding fluoride to public drinking water a good thing? For many, the answer seems obvious: Yes. Television commercials, oral hygiene products, and even traditional dentists actively endorse fluoride as a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay. Many are surprised to learn, however, that there is no clinical evidence to support such a claim. The tide is beginning to turn, and communities across America are putting an end to water fluoridation programs that are not only a danger to residents, but also an unnecessary cost to the municipality.
Since the early 1900s, American citizens have been led to believe that fluoridated water helps to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay. However, there is a wealth of research that indicates fluoride exposure may cause serious bodily harm. Fluoride has been shown to accumulate in vital soft tissues, like the Pineal Gland of the brain, and it may cause severe damage to the kidneys, reproductive system, and may even lower IQ scores among children.
In this light, it is easy to see why holistic dentistry professionals and fluoride-free water advocates believe that supplementing public drinking water with fluoride is ineffective, costly, and potentially toxic to residents.
For much of the 1900s, very little research was conducted to study the effect of fluoride accumulation on brain health. By the 1950s, the subject started to garner attention among a number of scientists, researchers, and dental health professionals. In 1990, a major milestone was reached when Dr. Jennifer Luke asked the question: How does the accumulation of fluoride affect the hard and soft tissues of the body?
The kidneys are believed to be the most important organ in the human body in the fight against long-term fluoride exposure. Healthy adult kidneys are able to excrete about 50 percent of ingested fluoride and are responsible for preventing toxic levels of fluoride from accumulating in the body. However, adults who have kidney disease excrete about 10 to 20 percent of ingested fluoride, which increases their body burden of fluoride and increases their likelihood of fluoride poisoning.