Too Much Fluoride?

Fluoride has always been thought to be a good thing, however, there is debate about whether or not there is too much fluoride put in our drinking water. Fluoride is also found in places you would least expect it: soft drinks and even beer.

Dr. Fleming is a Durham dentist and on the FDA dental advisory committee, and he believes that the fluoride added to water could be damaging to the the teeth as well as overall health. In 2006, a report by the National Academy of Sciences identified fluoride as a potent hormone disruptor that can affect your thyroid and potentially lower the IQ of children. The report also says that children who drink fluoridated water can develop fluorosis, which is a defect in their teeth that can cause discoloration and erosion of the enamel. Last year, Harvard researchers released a study that showed that the risk of bone cancer increases five fold for teenage boys who drink fluoridated water.

However, the American Dental Association said that as long as the fluoride that is being added to water is regulated and held to the guidelines, then it is safe as well as good for dental health.