Reducing Fluoride Levels In Drinking Water?

The U.S has come very far in incorporating fluoride into the drinking water supplies making it part of the daily nutritional intake. This process has been credited for the decrease in the occurrence of tooth decay. On January 7, 2011 however an announcement was made by officials from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowering the recommended intake of fluoride in water to 0.7 milligrams per liter, less than the current range of 0.7-1.2 mg/L. See related article here. Though it is said that the water fluoridation process has decreased the occurrence of tooth decay, it has also increased the occurrence of dental fluorosis in young children - a condition where enamel forming cells are damaged causing the tooth's enamel to become porous resulting in a mottled, white/brown appearance.

The proposed recommended intake is exactly what it is, a proposition. More research will have to be done to find out just how much fluoride we actually are supposed to be consuming via drinking water.
Am I the only one that thought this issue was totally resolved by the dental and scientific community?

4 comments:

Francois said...

I am with you on this one. I thought the fluoride issue was resolved as well

Anonymous said...

I wasn't even aware it was an issue anymore ... of course, I'm in Canada, so that probably has something to do with it, haha. I didn't have a single cavity until I was 16, and I know my grandma was always blown away by it since I grew up in a rural area and drank only well water which (obviously) contains no fluoride, so I never saw the issue in reducing it ... although, that's likely more due to genetics than anything else xD

Dr. Patrice Smith said...

Good for you Bee!
Hopefully this issue gets resolved soon, for good.

Unknown said...

Therefore the fluoride treatment I have been paying for when I get a cleaning is a waste of money!

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