Fluoride in water: good, bad or IABMCTT?

[IvanV]

RFK Jr has brought this topic to the fore again.

A surprisingly balanced article from Sky News suggesting IABMCTT. Or a cleverly skewed article that I failed to spot?

Tldr: In places where nearly everyone uses fluoride toothpaste, and even more so where many people also drink tea, there appears to be little additional benefit from flouride in water. Toothpaste is a better way of applying than drinking it, anyway. There are some actual risks from fluoride in water. The concentrations where actual damage might become material are not well characterised. The main risk of concern is developmental risk to fetuses (via pregnant mothers) and younger children. Whilst 1.5ppm is the max safe level specified in EU, whether in fact there is a material risk at the only slightly lower concentrations, such as 0.7ppm, as added in UK, or 1ppm as in US, is not known with certainty. In more deprived areas where tooth cleaning is less common, then perhaps benefits exceed risks. In UK, where only 10% of water is fluoridated, there are proposals to extend it, but only in more deprived areas, suggesting this argument is understood and acted on. In US, where 75% of water is fluoridated, maybe it is unnecessary in many such areas.

[headshot]

N=1. I grew up in Birmingham with fluoridated water. I'm 48 and have never required any major dental work.

[IvanV]

N=1. I grew up in Birmingham with fluoridated water. I'm 48 and have never required any major dental work.

By about the time of your birth, mid-70s, clean-your-teeth-with-flouridated-paste was pretty well established in many less deprived families in Britain. In my family, it that idea became established during my childhood, to be thoroughly established by the early 70s. Which is why I had more childhood fillings than my younger siblings.

If you grew up in a family that rigorously applied clean-your-teeth-with-flouridated-paste, from your early childhood at least, then your outcome is unsurprising, regardless of the water. If your family didn't do that, in the time of your childhood, then probably the fluoride did save you.

[headshot]

Yes. My parents were very strict with toothbrushing and I’ve been as fastidious ever since.

They grew up in the 40s/50s and barely have/had any original untreated teeth left.

[Chris Preston]

While fluoridated toothpaste reduces the need for fluoridation of water. However, there remain benefits, particularly from children in lower socio-economic groups. This is one example https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10. ... 08.00030.x