Fluoride No Benefit To Low-Income Americans, Study Shows

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 24 May 2007 - 12:00 PDT

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Even when fluoridated water is the most consumed item, cavities are extensive when diets are poor, according to a study in Caries Research.(1)

Burt and colleagues studied low-income African-American adults, 14-years-old and over, living in Detroit, Michigan, where water suppliers add fluoride chemicals attempting to prevent cavities. Yet, 83%of this population has severe tooth decay and diets high in sugars and fats, and low in fruits and vegetables.

"The most frequently reported food on a daily basis was tap water," write Burt's research team. Second were soft drinks and third were potato chips.

Tooth decay in fluoridated Detroit's toddlers' teeth is also shocking. Almost all of Detroit's five-year-olds have cavities; most of them go unfilled.(2)

Low-Income Americans are often priced out of healthy eating.(2a).

"Soda and chips are a cheap and accessible belly-filling meal," says lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation. "Fluoridation delivers only risks to poorly-fed Americans without any benefits," says Beeber.

"Interventions to promote oral health are unlikely to be successful without improvements in the social and physical environment," write Burt et al.

Further evidence that fluoridation fails:

-- In New York State, fluoridation has not leveled out decay rates between haves and have-nots. Less cavities are not found in all fluoridated NYS counties.(3)

-- In Illinois, where fluoridation is state-mandated, 70% of Spanish-speaking-only and 50% of English-speaking-only third-graders have cavities.(4)

-- A recent large federal government study shows that low-income children's primary tooth decay has spiked upwards. Non-poor children's primary decay rates were stable (5). "It's possible that those who drink free fluoridated tap water may actually have more cavities," says Beeber .

-- In fluoridated Anchorage, Alaska, sugar turned generations of the healthiest teeth in the world into some of the worst. (6)

-- Most fluoridated cities and states are experiencing tooth decay crises. See: http://www.fluoridenews.blogpsot.com

"Recent media reports blaming bottled water for cavity increases are unscientific, illogical and deceptive," says Beeber.

From 1/3 to ½ of U.S. school children are fluoride overdosed and sport dental fluorosis (fluoride discolored and/or pitted teeth).(7) Excess fluoride leads to decayed teeth.(8)

"Fluoride is ineffective in non-healthy eaters and of no benefit to healthy eaters," says Beeber.

New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.
PO Box 263
Old Bethpage, NY 11804
www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof
www.FluorideAction.Net
www.FluorideResearch.Org

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