The Flouride Dilemma

Did you ever wonder who has your best interest when it comes to your oral care and drinking water? We are led to believe that fluoride is completely safe and by using it in our toothpaste and drinking water, we will prevent dental cavities and reduce decay. What about the adverse effects of fluoride?  Below are a few links that shed some light on the adverse effects of fluoride:

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/water-fluoridation-and-cancer-risk.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/08/08/bone-fluorides-magnet-new-studies-halflife.aspx

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3491930/#!po=30.3571

In short, these articles provide evidence that fluoride can cause skeletal fluorosis and actually weaken the bones.

The images below featured in an 2013 New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) article show the forearm and vertebrae taken from a 47 year old woman who suffered skeletal fluorosis first hand. The patient was referred for abnormal radiographic findings as well as bone pain.  While obtaining her history, the patient reported she consumed a pitcher of tea containing 100-150 tea bags. (approximately >20 mg fluoride consumed per day).  She suffered low back pain as well as pain in her arms, legs, and hips for at least 5 years. The patient's teeth were extracted because they were so brittle.

It was reported that the serum fluoride concentration was 0.43 mg/L (nml concentration: <0.10 mg/L).  The NEJM reports that brewed iced tea tops the list of beverages in the US that contain the highest fluoride.


Naveen Kakumanu, M.D., and Sudhaker D. Rao, M.B., B.S.N Engl J Med 2013; 368:1140March 21, 2013DOI: 10.1056/NEJMicm1200995

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm1200995#t=article

Panel A shows interosseous membrane calcifications of the patient's forearm.

Panel B shows a striated pattern of increased density in her upper and lower zones of her vertebrae.

So, how did they manage this patient? They counseled her about her tea consumption, and shortly after she discontinued drinking tea. As a result, there was improvement in her symptoms. Eliminating skeletal fluoride from the body can take years, so doctors considered increasing bone remodeling with the use of teriparitide intermittently (a recombinant form of parathyroid hormone).

Many may be negatively affected by fluoride and we may not hear about it.  It is important to be aware of the negative effects of flouride, so that you can make a better decision when you go to purchase your next tube of toothpaste or figure out what is in your water. Consider the driving force for promoting fluoride. Is it about your health or is it all about money?