Editor:
I respect Dr. Henry Wolthuis’ opinion printed in last week’s paper, and I hope that my comments will be equally respected.
Neither opinions, nor endorsements, however, represent scientific evidence.
Fortunately, there is a lot of clear and convincing scientific evidence and studies showing fluoridated water as being extremely harmful to human health. Our community needs to consider the Hippocratic Oath in this decision and avoid doing any real and any potential harm, especially to our children.
I ask Dr. Wolthuis, why does the back of my husband’s fluoride toothpaste have a warning which tells me to call poison control if I accidentally ingest too much while brushing my teeth? Why does it also say to keep this tube of fluoride toothpaste out of the reach of children under the age of 6 years? (I personally don’t use fluoride toothpaste). Yes a pharmaceutical grade, dosage-controlled topical fluoride application may have some benefit for children who need it, but adults don’t need such topical applications, and certainly don’t need to drink it.
The small group of people you refer to who oppose fluoridation would undoubtedly grow if they knew the full extent of the arguments against it. If we need a full-blown campaign to prevent damaging the health of our citizens, then so be it.
What often happens is we gain a piece of knowledge at one point in our life, and then we become steadfast in our belief. Unfortunately, when we know, we don’t grow because we close the door to conflicting opinions, even convincing scientific evidence. Please do more research on the opposing side!
There are at least 50-plus, and probably many more reasons yet to be discovered, why we should keep fluoride out of our water. I will mention a few which I have come across. The most alarming claims of health-related harm is brain damage (leading to problems with learning and behavior); lowered IQ; an increase in uptake of aluminum in the brain; impaired kidney function; skeletal fluorosis, which mimics arthritis; interference with thyroid function; and an increase in hip fractures among adults. Apparently, fluoride makes the bones appear denser in X-rays but actually weakens the bones, making adults more prone to hip fractures. Other tidbits:
While adults can excrete 50 to 60 percent of ingested fluoride on a daily basis, the rest accumulates in bone and the pineal gland (Luke 1997, 2001). Our children’s bodies can’t excrete as much and accumulate 80 percent into their bones, (Ekstrand 1994).
Countries like India, China and parts of Africa are working at removing fluoride because of the health problems it has caused. When communities in Canada discontinued fluoridation, dental decay actually decreased (Maupome 2001; Kunzel & Fischer, 1997, 2000; Kunzel 2000; Seppa 2000).
I pray that much consideration will be given for the real potential for harm. Fluoride may be fine when topically applied, but from what I’ve read and studied, it has no place in our water. We’re not supposed to swallow a small amount when we brush our teeth before we have to call poison control. There’s no account for how much we ingest when we drink our water. What happens to our water when we heat it for tea or coffee? Do we get more concentrated doses of fluoride?
Read “Fluoride: The Great Dilemma.” In this book by George L. Waldbott, M.D., he reports that chronic fluoride toxicity symptoms are chronic fatigue, headaches, dry throat, excess thirst, UTIs, arthritic like pain, weak muscles, depression, visual disturbance, and these are just a few of the symptoms, and how about a nice mouth ulcer from too much fluoride?
It’s also helpful to read the book “Toxic Sludge is Good For You! Lies, Damn Lies and The Public Relations Industry” by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton. Don’t be swayed by clever big industry campaigns that pretend to be acting in the best interest of human health. Their science has become the science of propaganda. Remember when cigarettes were good for you and doctors were recommending certain brands? What if fluoridation is simply government policy based on the industry’s financial influence, or rather, bribery?
The solution for dental problems should not be in our water but in education on proper diet and dental hygiene. We have enough chemicals contaminating our drinking water. Let’s get the fluoride out!
Susan Angland
Sweet Home