Caries and The Danger of Fluoride

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Caries and The Danger of Fluoride

Caries and The Danger of Fluoride-- Dental Caries

Caries

It is a degenerative condition which is characterized by decay of the hard and soft tissues of the teeth. Infection and decaying food are the main causative factors of dental caries. Carbohydrates mainly act as decaying food and acids are formed in the oral cavity due to fermentation of carbohydrates. The acid thus formed then react with the insoluble calcium salts of the teeth and convert them into soluble salts. Proteolytic enzyme (produced by the bacteria present in the mouth) digest the organic enamel matrix and also enhances the action of acids and digest the organic matter of dentine, and organic acids of the oral cavity destroy the inorganic matter. In a later stage, pulp also affected with the advancing decay and infection may progress in the body. For dental caries, the preventive phase is probably the most important which include regular brushing, flossing and periodic dental checkup. Regular brushing has been shown to be very effective at controlling caries as well as gum problems. Caries involves the actual demineralization and destruction of tooth structure.

Treatment

Dental caries can be treated by using the following chemical agents. Ammonium ions—To reduce the incidence of dental caries, ammonium ions are applied locally in the oral cavity. Certain dentifrices which contain ammonia or ammonium compounds e.g. dibasic ammonium

phosphate and urea carbamide which liberates ammonia in the mouth are used. They decrease the number of acid producing pathogen, decrease the acidity of the oral cavity and dissolve the dental plaques. Urea—It is used to treat dental caries and is one of the oldest chemical used.  some dentifrices, urease is present. Urea is broken down to ammonia by urease.

Caries and The Danger of Fluoride

Fluorides

Fluoride in Caries

The role of fluoride in the control of dental caries has been known for a long time. Fluoride therapy and fluoridation of drinking water has played a significant role in deccreasing the dental caries. The incidence of dental caries can be significantly decreased by adding fluorides into the drinking water supply. Fluorides prevent decalcification of the structure of tooth by inhibiting bacterial enzymes which produce lactic acid. Fluorides also increase the tooth resistance to acid decalcification. Fluorides can be used prophylactically as well as therapeutically. Prophylactically, fluoride (in the form of sodium fluoride) can be used in drinking water and one part of fluoride to one million part of drinking water is sufficient for reducing the incidence of dental caries by 50%.

Therapeutically, 2% sodium fluoride solution is applied locally to the teeth after cleaning. The local application of fluoride leads to the absorption of fluorine on the enamel surface as calcium fluoride. But, sodium fluoride must be used with caution as it may cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain and on chronic ingestion. It may lead to chronic fluoride poisoning and also affects enamel and dentine of developing teeth.

Antimicrobial agents— Certain antimicrobial agents e.g. penicillin, bacitracin, aeuromycin etc. are being used to reduce the bacterial count which may be beneficial in reducing the incidence of dental caries. Certain other agents such as hexachlorophene, silver nitrate, chlorophyll are also used to clean debris and decaying material and incidence of dental caries.

But despite the benefits and its usage in dentistry, there are the disadvantages as well:

1. Accumulation of Fluoride in the Body

Fluoride accumulates in the body. Healthy adult kidneys excrete 50 to 60% of the fluoride ingested each day (Marier & Rose 1971). Any remaining fluoride accumulates in the body, typically in the bones and pineal gland (Luke 1997, 2001). Babies and children excrete less fluoride from their kidneys and absorb up to 80% of ingested fluoride into their bones (Ekstrand 1994). The concentration of fluoride in the bones increases over a lifetime (NRC 2006).

2. Fluoride and Bottle-fed Babies

Bottle-fed babies receive the highest doses of fluoride. Since they have a liquid diet, formula-fed babies have the highest exposure to fluoride. Infant exposure to fluoridated water has been repeatedly found to be a major risk factor for developing dental fluorosis later in life (Marshall 2004; Hong 2006; Levy 2010). As a result, dental researchers have recommended that parents of newborns not use fluoridated water when reconstituting formula (Ekstrand 1996; Pendrys 1998; Fomon 2000; Brothwell 2003; Marshall 2004).

The American Dental Association (ADA), the biggest advocates of fluoridation, sent a November 6, 2006 email alert to its members advising that parents should make baby formula with “low or no-fluoride water.”

3. Fluoride and Reproductive Problems

Fluoride given to animals at high doses destroys the male reproductive system. Fluoride damages sperm and increases the rate of infertility in a number of species (Kour 1980; Chinoy 1989; Chinoy 1991; Susheela 1991; Chinoy 1994; Kumar 1994; Narayana 1994a,b; Zhao 1995; Elbetieha 2000; Ghosh 2002; Zakrzewska 2002).

A U.S. epidemiological study showed increased rates of infertility among couples living in areas with 3 ppm or more fluoride in the water (Freni 1994). Two studies showed reduced level of circulating testosterone in males living in high fluoride areas (Susheela 1996; Barot 1998). A study of fluoride-exposed workers reported a “subclinical reproductive effect” (Ortiz-Perez 2003).

4. Fluoride and Brain Damage

“It is apparent that fluorides have the ability to interfere with the functions of the brain.” — the National Research Council (2006)

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists fluoride among about 100 chemicals for which there is “substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity.” Experiments on animals reveal that fluoride accumulates in the brain and alters mental behavior (Mullenix 1995). There have been over 100 animal experiments showing that fluoride damages the brain and impacts learning and behavior.

Advocates of fluoridation counter that these animal studies are invalid because high doses of fluoride were used. However, it takes 5-20 times more fluoride to reach the same plasma levels in rats as in humans (Sawan 2010). One animal experiment found effects at very low doses of fluoride (Varner 1998). In this study, rats were fed for one year with 1 ppm fluoride in their water (the same amount used in tap water fluoridation), using either sodium fluoride or aluminum fluoride. These rats had changes to their kidneys and brains, an increased uptake of aluminum in the brain, and the formation of beta-amyloid deposits which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

5. Fluoride and Lowered IQ

There have been 24 studies from China, Iran, India and Mexico that show an association between fluoride exposure and reduced IQ. One research team (Xiang 2003a,b) estimated that fluoride may lower IQ at 1.9 ppm (parts per million), while a recent preliminary study (Ding 2011) found a lowering of IQ in children drinking water at levels ranging from 0.3 to 3 ppm. The authors of this latter study reported that for each increase of 1 ppm fluoride measured in the urine there was a loss of 0.59 IQ points. According to the National Research Council (2006), “the consistency of the results [in fluoride/IQ studies] appears significant enough to warrant additional research on the effects of fluoride on intelligence.”

6. Fluoride and Early Puberty

Reduced IQ is not the only neurotoxic effect of fluoride. Studies have shown an association between fluoride exposure and impaired visual-spatial organization (Calderon 2000; Li 2004; Rocha-Amador 2009); while three other studies have found an association between prenatal fluoride exposure and fetal brain damage (Han 1989; Du 1992; Yu 1996).

Fluoride also affects the pineal gland. Studies by Jennifer Luke (2001) show that fluoride accumulates in the human pineal gland to very high levels. In her Ph.D. thesis, Luke has also shown in animal studies that fluoride reduces melatonin production and leads to an earlier onset of puberty (Luke 1997).

Consistent with Luke’s findings, one of the earliest fluoridation trials in the U.S. (Schlesinger 1956) reported that on average young girls in the fluoridated community reached menstruation 5 months earlier than girls in the non-fluoridated community.

7. Fluoride and Thyroid Function

Fluoride negatively impacts thyroid function. In the Ukraine, Bachinskii (1985) found a lowering of thyroid function, among otherwise healthy people, at 2.3 ppm fluoride in water. In the mid-20th century, fluoride was prescribed by a number of European doctors to reduce the activity of the thyroid gland for patients with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) (Stecher 1960; Waldbott 1978).

According to a clinical study by Galletti and Joyet (1958), the thyroid function of hyperthyroid patients was reduced at just 2.3-4.5 mg per day of fluoride. To put this finding in perspective, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS, 1991) has estimated that total fluoride exposure in fluoridated communities ranges from 1.6 to 6.6 mg/day. This is a remarkable fact, particularly considering the rampant and increasing problem of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) in the United States and other fluoridated countries. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include depression, fatigue, weight gain, muscle and joint pains, increased cholesterol levels, and heart disease. In 2010, the second most prescribed drug of the year was Synthroid (sodium levothyroxine) which is a hormone replacement drug used to treat an underactive thyroid.

8. Fluoride and Arthritis

Fluoride causes symptoms of arthritis. Skeletal fluorosis (a fluoride-induced bone and joint disease) mimic the symptoms of arthritis (Singh 1963; Franke 1975; Teotia 1976; Carnow 1981; Czerwinski 1988; DHHS 1991). According to an article published in Chemical & Engineering News, “Because some of the clinical symptoms mimic arthritis, the first two clinical phases of skeletal fluorosis could be easily misdiagnosed” (Hileman 1988). According to the CDC (2002), 1 in 3 Americans have some form of arthritis. Few studies have been done to determine whetherthe high prevalence of arthritis in America and other fluoridated countries could be related to growing fluoride exposure.

9. Fluoride Damages Bone

Fluoride damages bone. An early fluoridation trial (Newburgh-Kingston 1945-55) revealed a two-fold increase in bone defects among children in the fluoridated community (Schlesinger 1956). In 2001, Alarcon-Herrera reported a correlation between the severity of dental fluorosis and the frequency of bone fractures in children and adults in a high fluoride area in Mexico.

10. Fluoride and Hip Fractures in the Elderly

Fluoride may increase hip fractures in the elderly. High doses of fluoride (average 26 mg per day) were used in trials to treat patients with osteoporosis in an effort to harden their bones and reduce fracture rates. This treatment actually led to a higher number of fractures, particularly hip fractures (Inkovaara 1975; Gerster 1983; Dambacher 1986; O’Duffy 1986; Hedlund 1989; Bayley 1990; Gutteridge 1990. 2002; Orcel 1990; Riggs 1990 and Schnitzler 1990).

One Chinese study looked at hip fractures in six Chinese villages, and found an increase in hip fractures as the concentration of fluoride rose from 1 ppm to 8 ppm (Li 2001).

How to Avoid Fluoride

Avoid processed and packaged food
Buy fluoride-free toothpaste
Avoid fluoride treatments at the dentist
Filter your tap water
Don’t drink soda pop, or coffee or iced tea at restaurants
Don’t drink bottled water (with the exception of European water) as it is usually fluoridated
Order European mineral water in restaurants
Drink wine and beer imported from Europe
Don’t use tap water if feeding your baby formula (of course, I don’t recommend using baby formula anyway — if you can’t breastfeed, it’s best to make homemade baby formula)
Don’t smoke
Don’t use Teflon (non-stick) cookware

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