Water fluoridation

From RationalWiki

Since its inception in the 1940s^[1], the idea of fluoridating water has given rise to fear and suspicion.

Fluoride works by converting the outer layer of tooth enamel made of hydroxylapatite (Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH) to fluoroapatite Ca₅(PO₄)₃F. The latter chemical is less soluble in acidic solutions.

Contents 1 History of fluoridation 2 Arguments against fluoridation 3 Arguments for fluoridation 4 Arguments that have nothing to do with fluoridation 5 Summary of evidence 6 External links 7 Footnotes

[edit] History of fluoridation

(Until more RW brilliance appears here, there is good background available at Wikipedia.)

[edit] Arguments against fluoridation

Most of the arguments against fluoridation are based on ethical and moral issues, namely that water fluoridation is medicating large numbers of people against their will. Most health effect arguments against water fluoridation (such as toxicity and mottled teeth) base their assumptions on much higher doses of fluoride than are allowed in tap water. Additional studies on links between fluoride and cancer, and fluoride and bone fractures have been shown to be invalid, at least with the data available at this time.^[2] Other arguments are based on the false assumption that if fluoridation worked, there would be no tooth decay. Dental fluorosis is a a potential hazard but is not problematic if the dosage is controlled.^[3]

John Yiamouyiannis was, until his death in 2000, one of the most prominent sources of anti-fluoridation arguments.

[edit] Arguments for fluoridation

Centralized fluoridation is a safe, simple, effective way to improve the dental health of the population at large (especially children in the candy cavity prone years). It's a win-win! Godspeed!

[edit] Arguments that have nothing to do with fluoridation

Fluoride is the ionic form of fluorine, which is an extremely volatile and reactive element, in fact the most reactive element on the periodic table.

Fluorescent light bulbs used to make your skin look green, but their spectra are improving all the time, and they are much more efficient than incandescent lighting.

The government wants to turn my children into little atheist evilutionists by poisoning them.

Water flouridation makes a fun, safe paste for children's modeling projects. Add some sugar, yeast and raisins and you've got cake!

The Cold War started in 1945. Water fluoridation also started in 1945. Clearly it's a Communist plot to sap and impurify our precious bodily fluids.^[4]

Goats are fluoridation-neutral. They just don't care.

If God wanted water to be fluoridized, the chemical formula would have been H₂FlO.

[edit] Summary of evidence

[edit] External links

• http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/benefits/background.htm
• http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/fact_sheets/benefits.htm
• http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4841a1.htm
• http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5014a1.htm
• http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/fluores.htm
• http://www.health.gov/environment/ReviewofFluoride/default.htm
• http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/safety/osteosarcoma.htm
• http://www.quackwatch.org/03HealthPromotion/fluoride.html

[edit] Footnotes

1. ↑ http://www.health.gov/environment/ReviewofFluoride/exec.htm
2. ↑ http://www.health.gov/environment/ReviewofFluoride/default.htm
3. ↑ http://www.health.gov/environment/ReviewofFluoride/default.htm
4. ↑ You ever see a Commie drink water? Vodka. That's what they drink.