Fluoride in tap water

[nietzsche]

Not sure if this has already been discussed here, did a quick search and didn't found a thread for it.


Does anyone really knows anything about it? Is it true that we are sacrificing a lot in order to have pretty teeth?


I've read a bit about it, but not sure if it's really backed up by hard science or it's just a conspiracy theory...

What do you think?

[TA1LGUNN3R]

That makes paper mache.

-TG

[/]

Flour in your tap water is a practice backed by hard medical science. The grain forms a link with the harvest goddess to inject divine power directly into your teeth.

Fluoride on the other hand is an evil plot by the communists to destroy us, just like curing polio.

[oVo]

Fluoridated water was not a bad idea when it was initiated
long ago, but there are many products out there that also
include fluoride now. Too much fluoride is a problem...
and it's probably Obama's fault.

Of course now there is an abundance of bottled water, also
known as "dead water", with all it's trace minerals removed
which is also problematic... and probably Obama's fault too.

[nietzsche]

bastards

[Funkyterrance]

Yeah that makes more sense.

[waauw]

too much fluoride apparently makes people dumber, and I'm inclined to believe that

[Funkyterrance]

I had to write a paper on the subject in school and from what I remember they started putting fluoride in the water supply on behalf of all the poor people who couldn't afford to buy toothpaste or something to that effect. A lot of scientists believe that it's long term affects when ingested are detrimental but in the short term it's relatively safe so many cities continue to do it. Tap water in general isn't really very good for you anyway though since a lot of it contains contaminants from pipes and chlorine(really not good for you) as well as fluoride.
Out where I live we all have private artesian wells though which you generally get tested for contaminants every year or so. The well that I drink from is very clean/safe but has a high amount of sulpher so it smells a little of eggs and tends to cause some build-up in pipes from what I understand. I think it tastes great though! I've visited the city and drank from fountains and such of course but I thought the water tasted like the public pool. Bottled water tastes like plastic to me. Nasty.

[warmonger1981]

Supposedly Harvard came out with a study saying Fluoride is bad. Our bodies need small amounts of Calcium Flouride but there are different types of Flouride. I also hear it is bad for us. I also heard Europe does not Flouridate their water. That's all I can say about it.

[waauw]

Supposedly Harvard came out with a study saying Fluoride is bad. Our bodies need small amounts of Calcium Flouride but there are different types of Flouride. I also hear it is bad for us. I also heard Europe does not Flouridate their water. That's all I can say about it.

In europe it depends from country to country. Belgium and the Netherlands don't fluoridate, but Ireland and Spain do.
Here we use chlorine, which oxidates as soon as it's spit out of the tap.

[Funkyterrance]

Here we use chlorine, which oxidates as soon as it's spit out of the tap.

I did not know that. That may explain why I didn't get an "A" on my paper.

[Lootifer]

Yeah flouride is bad for you... but remember oxygen is a carcinogen.

Best you stop breathing if you dont want to die.

And seriously americans teeth are their best attribute, lets not take that away from them!

[PLAYER57832]

Not sure if this has already been discussed here, did a quick search and didn't found a thread for it.

It was brought up in a couple of other threads, though perhaps not a single thread on its own.

Does anyone really knows anything about it? Is it true that we are sacrificing a lot in order to have pretty teeth?

The health of people's teeth has significantly increased. It seems to have been a good, cost-effective decision at the time. However, now people brush their teeth more and can obtain flouride in other forms. With more and more people recently buying water in bottles instead of the much cheaper tap water, problems have begun to creep up again, but that can be combated by other types of fluoride use.

I've read a bit about it, but not sure if it's really backed up by hard science or it's just a conspiracy theory...

What do you think?

You will find a lot of both. As a general rule, too often the first page or two of most "google" searches are mostly garbage, but if you take the time to verify sources, you can find the real science.

Flouride has absolutely resulted in better teeth, which results in better overall health in many ways. (its not just about looking pretty by any means). However, how much and whether municipal additions are currently the best way to do it is another question, and a complicated one.

When it comes to any public decision, its not just a matter of if something will or will not cause harm, because almost anything will, particularly given unlimited levels and time. I mean, you can be "poisoned" by drinking too much water, but we die pretty quickly without it! The question is whether the good significantly outweighs the harm. In the case of fluoride, things have changed a lot. It was a good decision to add it to water, but is could be that something like fluoride rinses in school (which they do in some parts of Scandinavia) or even giving supplements to some people might be better than adding it to all water.

[Haggis_McMutton]

How has no one posted this yet?

[PLAYER57832]

How has no one posted this yet?

They did, just in another thread.

[rishaed]

Don't forget the Prozac....

[tzor]

Nationstates Daily Issue

#167: Fluoride Controversy A Toothy Problem [Enlightened Harmony; ed:Sirocco]

The Issue
Recent reports revealing that the dental health of @@NAME@@ is far below the regional average have ignited a fierce debate over whether to introduce fluoride to the nation's tap water reserves.

The Debate
1. "Fluoride has been shown time and time again to promote dental health," argues Dr. Edwin Namel, Chairman of 'Friends of The Teeth'. "It's not an experimental drug for heaven's sake, it's an accepted method of promoting national good health. A nationwide program for the fluoridation of drinking water should not be seen as optional - it's a no-brainer for any sensible government. We need to implement this now, whether the public want it or not."

2. "I am strongly against this proposal!" rages @@RANDOMNAME@@, one of the more vociferous members of the @@NAME@@ Green Society. "When I turn on the water tap I expect to get just that. Water. Nothing else. We are not lab rats and it is not the government's place to force us into taking these chemicals! In fact I reckon we should put the brakes on all these new chemicals doctors keep pumping into people and give us the right to say no!"

3. "There's no need to go to either extreme," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, your personal dentist. "It's all about, um, choice. Here's a nice alternative: why not just have clean non-fluorinated drinking water and give more funds to dentists? If we had enough money, we could make all dental care absolutely free! It will be demanding on the taxpayers I know, but they'll surely be happy when they all have sparkling white teeth!"

Another Nationstates daily Issue

#156: Waste Going To Waste, Says Industry Lobby [DeFranzania; ed:Reploid Productions]

The Issue
@@NAME@@'s industries have an ever-growing amount of toxic wastes to dispose of, and doing so in safe ways is becoming prohibitively expensive, leading a group of lobbyists to try and pressure the government into changing existing disposal laws.

The Debate
1. "These waste dumping laws are destroying our businesses!" rants @@RANDOMNAME@@, head of the @@NAME@@ Bigger Business Bureau. "We need cheaper ways to eliminate industrial by-products, which really aren't as harmful as people think, such as pouring them into rivers or deep ocean ravines where they're harmless to us. Let's remember that the products we manufacture make your life easier and more fun!"

2. "A better way to deal with this problem is to convince the public it isn't a problem at all," whispers @@RANDOMNAME@@, head of Scamcorp, an industrial think tank. "Fudge some research, declare that the chemical by-products from industrial processing and production actually make one's teeth and bones healthier. Then, sell them to municipalities to add to their drinking water! Yes! This will not only save us the trouble of disposing of the waste correctly, we'll be able to sell it at a profit! I can taste the money already!"

3. "These corrupt, money-hungry corporations are only looking out for themselves and their bottom line!" says @@RANDOMNAME@@, an environmentalist from northern @@NAME@@. "The government needs to enact stricter laws for how these companies can dump their waste safely, and when they poison @@NAME@@'s people and environment, the government needs the authority and manpower to enforce harsh penalties! These companies make their messes, they should pay to clean them up!"

Ironically, I think that covers both sides of this issue.