Not that hes the first or only naysayer, to be fair.
In fact, there have been various urban legends and conspiracy theories circulating for decades, Dr. Deziel says.
Just why are some people so suspicious of fluoride?
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And is there any legitimacy to their concerns?
With misinformation running rampant on the internet, we set out to home in on the actual facts.
What is fluoride in the first place?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is present at low levels in almost all water.
PerCDCdata, 63% of the US population received fluoridated water as of 2020.
What are the benefits of fluoride?
Here are a few reasons why we might want to think twice before removing fluoride from public drinking water.
Second, it acts as an antimicrobial, meaning it defends against harmful bacteria in the mouth.
Ultimately, fluoridated water can improve your overall oral health by helping prevent cavitiesandreversing them in the early stages.
Tooth decay and gum disease have repercussions that can extend well beyond your mouth.
Another far-reaching benefit of fluoride: It can help strengthen your bones.
In trace amounts, fluoride plays a key role in normal bone development throughout your entire body.
Specifically, it stimulates bone-building cells known as osteoblasts as well as hormones like insulin-like growth factor.
For that reason, a chronic fluoride deficiency can cause weak and brittle bones, especially in children.
Why is it added to drinking water?
Simply put: Fluoride is added to drinking water to prevent tooth decay.
In most cases, though, the fluoride levels naturally occurring in water were too low to prevent cavities.
The benefits were really profound.
Dental health started improving rapidly in communities across the country.
But that doesnt mean theyre not still present.
So whats the controversy over fluoride in our drinking water?
Lets dig into some of these claims.
First, keep in mind that the dose matters.
In other words, anything can be toxic in a large enough quantity.
Similarly, both too much and too little fluoride can create health problems, Dr. Deziel says.
Too little fluoride can cause dental issues like cavities, as weve already established.
As for some of RFK Jr.s other claims?
As for the link between fluoride and childrens cognition?
But on balance, the available research simply doesnt support purging fluoride from public drinking water.
Far from it, in fact.
Water fluoridation serves an important public health role, Dr. Deziel says.
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