WATER FLUORIDATION: MYTHS VS REALITY Or HOW TO DEAL WITH THE ANTI- FLUORIDATIONISTS IN YOUR CITY David F. Nelson, D.D.S., M.S. Consultant to the Office.

WATER FLUORIDATION: MYTHS VS REALITY

Or

HOW TO DEAL WITH THE ANTI-FLUORIDATIONISTS IN YOUR CITY

David F. Nelson, D.D.S., M.S.Consultant to the Office of Oral Health

California Dept. of Health Services

October 24, 2006

CURRENT ANTI-FLUORIDE ACTIVITY

• Anti-fluoridation websites:– FAN (fluoride action network)

• 50 reasons to oppose fluoridation:– 1. F not necessary to humans– 2. doesn’t reduce tooth decay– 3. benefits are topical, not systemic– 4. causes dental fluorosis even at low doses– 5. lowers IQ of children– 6. causes hypothyroidism– 7. causes skeletal fluorosis– 8. causes hip fractures in the elderly– 9. causes osteosarcoma in young boys– 10. Nobel prize winners are opposed

Rebuttal to the 50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation

• The author of the “50 Reasons” document states: ‘these reasons are based on a thorough review of the scientific literature as regards both the risks and benefits of being exposed to the fluoride ion’. And yet…..

• The “50 Reasons” document fails to conform to ANY generally accepted principals for assembling, evaluation and interpreting medical research.

• There is no systematic search for pertinent research; no critical appraisal of studies; no use of a selection criteria; no critical appraisal of studies to determine validity and no integration of evidence. Therefore…

Conclusions on the “50 Reasons” document

• No conclusions can or should be drawn from this poor quality document!

• This paper is a series of statements and opinions and is not evidence based!

• This rebuttal of the “50 Reasons” was done by Irish fluoridationists in 2 papers, one 18 pages and one of 42 pages.

• Thorough, investigative, professional and evidence based critique by health care professors from the dental schools of the United Kingdom

More anti-fluoride websites

• Nofluoride.com– 4 main arguments against fluoridation:

1. AMA not willing to state that fluoride will harm no one!– Of course not. Would not say that about any element

2. Not FDA approved– And never will be. FDA doesn’t regulate drinking water.

Regulates bottled water, toothpaste, etc. F OK in toothpaste– EPA has the responsibility for drinking water, not the FDA

3. Forced mass medication of the public– No more so than immunizations, helmets, iodine in bread,

vitamin D in milk

4. The chemicals are not pharmaceutical quality– Don’t have to be. As long as they pass the NSF Standard 65

water quality tests they are pure enough for drinking water

ONE MORE WEBSITE…

• Keepers of the Well:– Run by Jeff Green, notorious anti from San Diego– Their claims:

1. Mass medicates at a level that no doctor could Rx2. FDA reports the chemicals used in fluoridation have never

been studied for safety3. EPA unions call for a moratorium4. Chemicals contain arsenic and lead5. The increased lead levels responsible for learning

disabilities, substance abuse, hyperactivity and crime6. Kidney and brain lesions causing Alzheimers7. We are already overdosed on fluoride from foods and

beverages.

The anti-fluoridationists and the media

• Personal communications with the antis• Local newspapers• Letters to the Editor

• Very effective in Watsonville, Arcata, Modesto

• Cartoons• Use of non-peer reviewed journals

• Publishing “junk science” in junk journals• Publishing “junk science” in popular women’s

magazines

The Nazi’s scheme used water

fluoridation to control prisoners

and the public

TO ALL:   DAVID NELSON,  YOU LIAR! 

You fools....promoting fluoride!  You greedy fools!  People are waking up to the fact that fluoride is a waste product....and that fluoride does nothing good for teeth. 

Studies prove that fluoride causes more cavities, more drilling, more filling, more billing.  Studies prove that all kinds of health problems are the cause of fluoride.  Many people are victims of fluoride poisoning.   Read the many horror stories.......also read "The Fluoride Deception" by Chris Bryson.   

FIND the cause NOT the cure for diseases!   FLUORIDE IS THE CAUSE!  

Every one cent spent on fluoridation costs more than Three times $120 for teeth repair....that obviously makes YOU happy!  I am proof!  I am a victim of fluoride poisoning, and it didn't take much!   You pay for ALL the repair on my teeth because of fluoride!  Send me a check!!  Plus all the health problems I have, and NO

medical insurance!  You bastard! 

 People are suffering, people are dying from this CRAP!   YOU BASTARD DAVID NELSON!!     USING

the poor people to promote this crap....OH.. make your self look as good as you possibly can!!    WHAT A JERK YOU ARE!!   The reason for cavities is SUGAR, POP, CANDY!   POOR DIET, get it!!  TRY promoting good diet!  How many dollars would be in that?  NONE!  Who are you, or anyone else, to tell people what to put in their water.  FLUORIDE IS POISON!    

greedy bastard!   WHAT a sad shame that fluoridation is any where!  You You are so stupid you don't know fact from fiction.  Fluoridation is ALL about money and greed!  At the expense of people's health and teeth! 

 A fluoride poisoned person

“……..Time to acknowledge the cause of ALL our health problems.....NOT the cure. The cause is fluoride!! WAKE UP!! You bastards!! Apologize for putting poison in the water in the first place! YOU STUPID DENTISTS and DOCTORS.......YOU HAVE NO COMMON SENSE! Someone sold YOU POISON!! AND you were stupid enough to believe it! SUCH FOOLS!!!!! Can't stop now.......YOU (dentists and doctors )are too ashamed to admit the truth! YOU (dentists and doctors ) were/are JUST PLAIN STUPID AND GREEDY!!!””Sincerely,

Another happy camper!!

Myths vs. Reality

• Fluoridation causes osteosarcoma in young boys Harvard study by Dr. Bassin-very small cohort Did not control for residency Even the author cautions-no conclusions can be drawn Her mentor,Dr. Chet Douglas, says the same thing

There are harmful contaminants e.g.arsenic and lead in the fluoridation chemicalsHardly measurable, well below the MCLs, in ppbBasis for the Escondido lawsuit

Exposure from foods, beverages is overdosing us NAS—toxicity level to produce symptoms is 20-80 ppm for 10-20 years, or 10ppm of naturally occurring for 10-20 years

More myths

• We are using “industrial grade” chemicals All chemicals used in treating water are “industrial grade” Natural F and added F are the same ion

• Is fluoride effective in reducing decay?In the US, 113 studies aloneEffectiveness ranges between 15-60% depending on age group and type of teeth. Not as effective as in 1945 due to “halo effect”Current estimates are between 20-40%

• Fluoride causes rampant fluorosisAntis claim fluorosis rates are 60%Reality is more like 22%Dentists don’t seem to see even that much

And even more….

• Fluoridation is wasteful because only a tiny portion goes for human consumption

Used for watering lawns, washing cars, industryImpossible to treat just the drinking water portion

• Fluoridation will kill my fish!!Sea water is 1.2-1.5 ppm naturally

• Fluoridation is compulsory mass medicationIt is neither compulsory nor medication• Use Bottled water; F is not a “medicine”

Adjustment of a naturally occurring element

COMMUNITY WATER COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION IS:FLUORIDATION IS:

OVER 60 YEARS OF USE AND OVER 60 YEARS OF USE AND THOUSANDS THOUSANDS

OF CREDIBLE PEER-REVIEWED OF CREDIBLE PEER-REVIEWED STUDIESSTUDIES TELL US THISTELL US THIS

COMMUNITY WATER COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION IS:FLUORIDATION IS:

DECAY IS REDUCED BY UP DECAY IS REDUCED BY UP TO 40% IN CHILDREN, 20% IN TO 40% IN CHILDREN, 20% IN ADULTS AND UP TO 60% IN ADULTS AND UP TO 60% IN

SENIORSSENIORS

COMMUNITY WATER COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION IS:FLUORIDATION IS:

COSTS PER PERSON RANGE FROM COSTS PER PERSON RANGE FROM 50¢ / PERSON / YR TO $3 / PERSON / YR50¢ / PERSON / YR TO $3 / PERSON / YR

(A SINGLE FILLING MAY COST $60- $180)(A SINGLE FILLING MAY COST $60- $180)

J E N S E N

W E Y M O U T H

D IE M E R

M IL L S

C E N T R A LP O O L

S K IN N E R

Scale in M iles

0 5 10 15 20

SilverwoodLake

LakePerris

LakeMathews

LakeSkinner

EastsideReservoir

Colorado RiverAqueduct

California AqueductEast Branch

California AqueductWest Branch

L O S A N G E L E SV E N T U R A

S A NB E R N A R D I N O

R I V E R S I D E

S A N D I E G O

O R A N G E

S a n taM o n ic a

F u l le r to n

A n a h e im

L o n g B e a c h

S a n taA n a

L o s A n g e le s

B e v e r lyH i l ls

G le n d a le

Weym outh Filtration Plant

JensenFiltration

Plant

M illsFiltration

Plant

In landFeeder

Diem er Filtration Plant

SkinnerFiltration

Plant

Metropolitan W ater District Treatment Plant Service Areas

Mills Plant--SPWJensen Plant--SPWDiem er Plant--SPW /CRW BlendSkinner Plant--SPW /CRW BlendW eym outh Plant--SPW /CRW BlendCentral Pool--Blend of Jensen, Diem er, and W eym outh W ater

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GOTTEETH ?

GETFLUORIDE !