New
York -- May 2007 -- Scientists report a link between
dental fluorosis and periodontal disease in the June 2007 Indian Journal of
Dental Research. (1)

Dental fluorosis - white spotted, yellow, brown stained and/or pitted
teeth - is a visual manifestation of fluoride overdose during childhood. Dental
fluorosis afflicts from 1/3 to 1/2 of U.S. schoolchildren, according to the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control. (2)

Inhabitants of the Davangere district of India were studied where natural
water fluoride levels ranged from 1.5 to 3.0 parts-per-million (ppm) which is
similar to fluoride levels allowed in U.S. water supplies (up to 4 ppm). The
sample consisted of 1,029 subjects between 15- and 74-years-old.

As the degree of dental fluorosis increased, periodontitis (advanced gum
infection) increased. “The results suggest that there is a strong association of
occurrence of periodontal disease in high-fluoride areas,” write Vandana and
Reddy.

“Surprisingly, studies have not paid attention to the periodontal status
in high-fluoride areas from a research perspective,” the authors
write.

“In addition to inflammatory process, which remains common to high- and
low-fluoride areas, the fluorosis induced changes in hard and soft tissues of
periodontium requires … attention to suspect fluoride as an etiological
(environmental) agent for periodontal disease,” the authors conclude.

Two thirds of U.S. public water suppliers purposely
add fluoride chemicals (silicofluorides) in an attempt to reduce tooth decay in
tap water drinkers. Some U.S.
communities have natural fluoride levels up to 4 ppm..

“How much longer do the American people have to be the guinea pigs in the
U.S.’s fluoridation experiment,” asks
lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation.

The National Research Council advises more studies are required on
fluoride's effects on reasoning ability, endocrine functions, the immune
deficient, fertility, gastric response,
bladder cancer, kidney and liver enzyme functions and more.
(3)

Studies already link fluoride to cancer, genetic defects, IQ deficits,
thyroid dysfunction, kidney, tooth and bone damage. (3a) But government officials want even more
studies before they condemn fluoridation.

“Who will decide when fluoride’s mounting risks outweigh its questionable
benefits. The individual or the
government?” asks Beeber. “Fluoridation leaves it in the hands of the
government.”

“Fluoridation chemicals are in short supply these days,” (5) says Beeber,
“This would be a good time to gracefully bow out of water
fluoridation.”

END

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References:

1) “Assessment of periodontal status in dental fluorosis subjects using
community periodontal index of treatment needs,” Vandana KL, Sesha Reddy M,
Indiana Journal of Dental Research 18(2) 2007

http://www.ijdr.in/temp/IndianJDentRes18267_150451.pdf

2) http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/figures/s403a1t23.gif

3)
http://www.fluorideaction.net/health/epa/nrc/excerpts.html

3a)
http://www.FluorideAction.Net/health

4)
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_11/sr11_248.pdf

5) “Fluoride shortage affecting water,”
The Indiana Courier Press, by John Lucas May 11, 2007

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/may/11/fluoride-shortage-affecting-water/