Column 407        June 16, 2023Is Fluoride Safe?

For decades I thought fluoride strengthened teeth enamel and that health concerns were minimal at worst. How could fluoride be bad for us if dentists recommend it, it’s in the public water supply, and toothpaste manufacturers tout it as a good ingredient in their products? The Healthline review of fluoride is the typical presentation, although even its review expresses some cautions.

“As with many other nutrients, fluoride appears to be safe and effective when used and consumed in appropriate amounts. It can help prevent cavities, but ingesting it in very large amounts through drinking water or other means may lead to serious health issues. However, this is mainly a problem in countries with naturally high fluoride levels in water, such as India. The amount of fluoride is tightly controlled in countries that intentionally add it to drinking water. However, some evidence suggests that even controlled levels of fluoride in water may affect brain development in infants. While fluoridated community water appears to be mostly safe, new research is needed to assess its effectiveness.”1

I recently gained a new perspective on fluoride after reading a report on it by Kevin Stock. His take was rather shocking because he is the first dentist I know who doesn’t recommend fluoride. For sure Kevin is not a parrot. In my book he’s a straight-shooting, fanatical, nutrition-focused carnivore and a student of science. Therefore his views carry some weight with me which is why I recommend that everyone read his report which outlines, point by point, the health dangers of water fluoridation and the history that has been kept from us.2

His report, which is posted online, covers a lot of ground. Rather than even try to cover the topic in my short column, I’ll just whet your appetite with a few of the high points. For starters, he explains that “Americans consume more fluoridated water than the rest of the world combined, and the CDC calls it one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century.” Right off the bat, from what we’ve learned during the COVID pandemic crisis about the integrity of some of the agencies under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—anything the CDC, NIH, FDA, and such say is suspect.

Kevin practices in numerous communities—some with fluoridated water and some without. In his experience, almost all of the kids, like nine out of 10, have cavities. Because of such a high caries rate, he hasn’t been able to determine if there’s a difference in communities with or without water fluoridation. Yet, if fluoridation worked as promoted, one would think the outcomes would be readily apparent.

Before it became a dental sensation, fluoride was known as a poison since it was a main ingredient in rat poison. Yet it was determined that very low doses of fluoride supposedly helped strengthened teeth enamel and was safe. The primary drawback was that fluoridating water with a pharmaceutical grade stannous or sodium fluoride (like used in toothpastes) would be prohibitively expensive. But since any variation of fluoride, when ingested, breaks down into fluoride it was more practical to use relatively cheap fluoride that’s an industrial byproduct of fertilizer and aluminum processing—and, to keep it safe, just manage the dose.

Fluorine is widely dispersed in nature and is estimated to be the thirteenth-most abundant element in Earth's crust. Mostly it’s in mineral deposits and naturally present in groundwater, fresh and saltwater sources, as well as in rainwater. Seawater fluoride levels are usually in the range of 0.86 to 1.4 mg/L, and average 1.1 mg/L. [One milligram per liter is one part per million (ppm).]3

Daily intakes of fluoride will vary significantly according to the sources of exposure. Values ranging from 0.46 to 3.6–5.4 mg/day have been reported in several studies. Where water is fluoridated it becomes a significant source of fluoride, even though fluoride is also naturally present in virtually all foods and beverages. The maximum safe daily consumption of fluoride is 10 mg/day for an adult (U.S.) or 7 mg/day (European Union).

Phosphate deposits are used to make synthetic fertilizer for agriculture. When phosphate rock is treated with sulfuric acid, the toxic gases hydrogen fluoride and silicon tetrafluoride are created. These gases can be converted into fluorosilicic acid (FSA), the most common form of fluoride used to create fluoridated water supplies. For decades now fluoride waste products have been transported from fertilizer factories and also aluminum producers to water reservoirs throughout the US.

Back in the 1940s it was decided that the proper dose of fluoride in a water supply was 1.0 ppm. Supposedly, that “magic number” threaded the needle between poison and medicine. Then between 2011 and 2015 governing bodies started lowering the “magic number” to today’s 0.7 mg/L or 0.7 ppm. It was around this time that various fluoride studies started appearing that pointed to possible dangerous side effects.4

●    In 2015 it was determined that almost all the key early studies were deeply flawed and the researchers expressed concerns over the potential for harm.
●    The neurotoxic effects have been linked with ADHD. Children in areas that receive fluoridated water from public water supplies have higher rates of ADHD diagnoses.
●    Many neurodevelopmental disabilities, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other cognitive impairments, seem to be increasing in frequency. Researchers have identified known industrial chemicals like lead, methylmercury, PCBs, arsenic, and toluene to contribute to rising rates of neurodevelopmental disabilities. In 2014 they added fluoride to the list.
●    A 2019 review found that excessive fluoride exposures in children were linked to cognitive deficits.
●    Formula-fed babies receiving formula made with intentionally fluoridated tap water had a lower “performance IQ” than breastfed babies in the study.
●    A 2020 study found that a 0.5 mg increase in fluoride intakes from infant formula corresponded to a nine-point reduction in IQ points compared to breastfed infants.
●    Fluoride can impair neuron signaling and can interfere with axonal neurofilaments. It may even increase the plaques that contribute to dementia as happened in studies with rats that were given fluoridated drinking water.
●    Skeletal fluorosis can result from excess fluoride uptake into bones. Heavily fluoridated bones become hardened and less elastic, increasing the risk of fractures and damage to the joints (osteoarthritis).
●    Fluoride is classified as an endocrine disruptor by the US National Research Council.
●    Along with the thyroid, fluoride can impair other glands like the pancreas and pineal gland.
●    Heart disease is also being linked to fluoride.5 6

Here is Kevin’s conclusion: “Much of the research on water fluoridation, like nutrition research, is epidemiology. We can’t simply infer causation from population correlations. Like always, we need more and better research. But right now, with the evidence at hand, I’d recommend limiting fluoride exposure, especially for pregnant women and children. To me, avoiding fluoridated water is a no-brainer.”2

There is considerable fluoride research currently ongoing. It might take decades before we know for a fact how fluoride, at even 0.7 ppm, impacts human health. Yet for now, if fluoride treatments have little impact on preventing caries, and because it’s not a required nutrient, avoiding it whenever possible and filtering it out of your water makes more sense than continuing to ingest it.

Maybe it’s time to get a reverse osmosis filtration system?7

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

For additional reading:

1. Fluoride: Benefits and Precautions Medically reviewed by Jillian Kubala, MS, RD, Nutrition and by Hrefna Palsdottir, MS from Healthline

2. Health Dangers of Water Fluoridation by Kevin Stock DDS

3. Fluoride from Wikipedia

4. Why Exactly Does the Government Dump Toxic Fluoride Into ¾ of the US Water Supply? by Ben Bartee from The Daily Bell

5. Fluoride Causes Heart Disease, Stroke and Sudden Death by Geoff Pain

6. Fluoride Elevates Heart Disease Risk by David Brownstein, M.D. from Newsmax

7. Quench Reverse Osmosis Filtration Systems