5 reasons why you may want to avoid fluoride

My husband and I have a continuing battle that wages war every morning and night. What are the grounds for fighting, you ask? It’s over toothpaste. I am firmly on the side of no fluoride or traces of fluoride in my tube. While my husband throws caution to the wind and goes for toxic matter swimming in a pool of minty goodness.
Have you ever read on the back of a toothpaste bottle? The verbiage is downright terrifying: “Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.” This is warning is enough to keep me away; however, many keep on brushing. To fully help husbands everywhere understand the issue, here are the top five things you may not know about fluoride.
1. No confirmation of safety
While fluoride may help keep cavities at bay, the buildup of fluoride deposits in the body has effects on many other tissues. In 2006, leading toxicologist Dr. John Doull addressed the National Academy of Science (NAS) with a 500-page review of fluoride’s toxic properties. In response, the NAS recommended further investigation into fluoride’s effect on the skeletal, endocrine, and nervous systems. These are basic studies that have yet to be conducted even after 60 years of adding fluoride to the water system and decades of fluoridation dental market.
2. Fluoride may be stealing your IQ
In a 2012 Chinese study, researchers looked at the difference between IQ scores of children living in areas that supplemented their water supply with fluoride versus areas that do not supplement. The result showed that a child who was ingesting fluoride regularly had an IQ of 7 points lower than other children.
3. US not following fluoridation trends
The United States is only one of eight developed, civilized country that supplement their water supply with fluoride. Five European nations add fluoridated salt to their supply; however, this represents a different chemical compound. China goes so far to label fluoride as a toxic substance.
4. Serving size of fluoride is a huge miss
Back to the whole “read the label on the back of the toothpaste bottle”. The directions first read “Do not swallow”, then “use a pea-sized” amount. Wait, a pea-sized amount? Have you seen a toothpaste commercial in the past 20 years? There is clearly more than a pea size on the pretty people modeling the toothpaste. There is also much more on mine at home. To take serving size to our water supply, a pea size of tooth paste equals approximately a quarter of milligram of fluoride. According to the FDA, this quarter of milligram of fluoride represents the max amount of fluoride that can be ingested at one time. This quarter of milligram of fluoride is present in an eight ounce glass of water. So for those of you who are getting your 8 glasses of water per day…SOL.
5. Fluoride is not defined as a “nutrient”
This may not seem like a big distinction; however, it brings to light a subtle point. Since fluoride is not an essential nutrient, it must be deemed either a medication or supplement. This means local governments are determining to medicate the entire population regardless of other normal prescription based practices. Specifically, the amount of fluorine in our water supply is not recommended for all age brackets. A two-year-old child consuming multiply glasses of water could be overdosing.
Mari-Chris Savage is a licensed and registered dietitian with years of experience in nutritional consultation and corporate wellness. As a nutrition specialist, Mari-Chris has consulted individuals on improving their current health status and focusing on preventative methods for a lifetime. Mari-Chris also holds a certification in personal training to promote physical activity guidance and motivation. Her background spurs an extremely active lifestyle filled with running, hiking, barre, and yoga classes. For more from Mari-Chris, check out her website The Savage Standard. 
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