Saturday, March 22, 2008
Reason #43 why Utah is dumb
As a Public Health major I recently was made aware of a shocking health issue that is not practiced in Utah. The state of Utah does not put fluoride in its water. Fluoridizing water is one of the ten greatest achievements of public health and Utah has refused to make its citizens healthier. Adding fluoride to the water has been proven to improve the dental health of people by decreasing the incidence of cavities. Fluoride is a mineral that helps build up the strength of teeth and protect against cavities. Every other state in the US has fluoride in the water. Why not Utah? Why are they refusing to start a practice that will improve the health of people? It's like saying, "No that's ok, I don't want to be healthy." There are two reasons I've heard of why this hasn't happened. One is that some people are opposed to additives in their water. They want it to be pure. There's already enough stuff in the water that we don't think about. The other reason is that dentists actually oppose putting fluoride in the water. They WANT people to get cavities so they can make more money off the people who need them fixed. Basically they are greedy. This is ridiculous. And yet another reason why Utah is dumb.
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I agree! It is rediculous that Utah doesn't flouridize their water. I did a whole paper on it. And most dentist actually do want flouridized water, it's mostly the public that doesn't now anything that opposes the idea...idiots.
Actually, Utah is one of the more progressive states when it comes to fluoridation. Based on new science and fluoridation's political history, there's little that recommends this practice. People with all the facts work to clean the water of fluoride. Check out these resources.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ys9q1cvKGk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3y8uwtxrHo
http://www.amazon.com/Fluoride-Deception-Interview-Christopher-Bryson/dp/B000FGX6LY
Before you start calling my beloved home state "dumb" - you ought to do a lot more research on the topic of fluoridation!
Majoring in Public Health, you may want to reevaluate your findings. You may find that:
1.) Parts of Utah are fluoridated. You made it sound like the entire state of Utah was not fluoridated. Before you make accusations, take a look at the Utah State laws and you will better understand how fluoridation can be added to the water.
2.) The correct term is fluoridating - not "fluoridizing" as you have used in you report. There is no such word as fluoridizing.
3.) You state that "Adding fluoride to the water has been proven to improve the dental health of people by decreasing the incidence of cavities." Please provide your readers with one scientific study to document your statement. To date, no one has been able to do that.
4.) Why are more Utahns refusing to fluoridate? Perhaps it's because of so many states in the country are discontinuing fluoridation because of resent reported health risks. Do you know that the fluoride that is added to water supply systems is not the same fluoride that is added to your toothpaste? Do some research and you'll find that the chemical added to water (Fluorosilicic acid) contains traces of lead, arsenic, and mercury. Would you want to brush your teeth with a fluoridated tooth paste that contained lead, arsenic and mercury? Why would you want to drink fluoridated water that does?
5.) Additives to water? Here's an example for you: Chlorine is a disinfectant and is added to the water to make it safe to drink. Therefore, chlorine treats the water. Fluorosilicic acid treats people.
6.) Obviously you are not aware of the countless studies (some being government agency studies) that show no difference in the amount of dental caries in fluoridated vs. nonfluoridated communities.
I am really surprised that someone, like yourself, in public health is not willing to investigate all the pros and cons of health issues.
Since 1970, I have been a Registered Dental Hygienist with a Masters Degree in Dental Hygiene Administration, Education, and Research.
You have insulted all Utahns with your crude remark of calling Utah "dumb." You owe Utah an apology!
In a statement first released August 9, 2007, over 1,600 professionals urge Congress to stop water fluoridation until Congressional hearings are conducted. They cite new scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and has serious health risks. (http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html)
Signers include a Nobel Prize winner, three members of the prestigious 2006 National Research Council (NRC) panel that reported on fluoride’s toxicology, two officers in the Union representing professionals at EPA headquarters, the President of the International Society of Doctors for the Environment, and hundreds of medical, dental, academic, scientific and environmental professionals, worldwide.
Signer Dr. Arvid Carlsson, winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Medicine, says, “Fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology. It's really obsolete.”
An Online Action Petition to Congress in support of the Professionals' Statement is available on FAN's web site, www.fluorideaction.org/ and already signed by overf 10,600 individuals .
“The NRC report dramatically changed scientific understanding of fluoride's health risks," says Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director, Fluoride Action Network. "Government officials who continue to promote fluoridation must testify under oath as to why they are ignoring the powerful evidence of harm in the NRC report,” he added.
The Professionals’ Statement also references:
-- The new American Dental Association policy recommending infant formula NOT be prepared with fluoridated water.
-- The CDC’s concession that the predominant benefit of fluoride is topical not systemic.
-- CDC data showing that dental fluorosis, caused by fluoride over-exposure, now impacts one third of American children.
-- Major research indicating little difference in decay rates between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities.
-- A Harvard study indicating a possible link between fluoridation and bone cancer.
-- The silicofluoride chemicals used for fluoridation are contaminated industrial waste and have never been FDA- approved for human ingestion.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a DC watchdog, revealed that a Harvard professor concealed the fluoridation/bone cancer connection for three years. EWG President Ken Cook states, “It is time for the US to recognize that fluoridation has serious risks that far outweigh any minor benefits, and unlike many other environmental issues, it's as easy to end as turning off a valve at the water plant.”
Further, researchers reporting in the Oct 6 2007 British Medical Journal indicate that fluoridation, touted as a safe cavity preventive, never was proven safe or effective and may be unethical. (1)
In New York State, Cobeskill stopped 54 years of fluoridation in 2007, the Central Bridge Water District stopped fluoridation in 2006, Homer in 2005, Canton in 2003. Oneida rejected fluoridation in 2002. Ithaca rejected fluoridation in 2002. Johnstown rejected it in 1999. Before that several towns in Nassau County stopped fluoridation. Suffolk County rejected fluoridation in the 1990's.
On October 2, 2007 Juneau Alaska voters rejected fluoridation despite the American Dental Association's $150,000 political campaign to return fluoride into the water supply after the legislative body voted it out.
Many communities rejected or stopped fluoridation over the years. See: http://www.fluoridealert.org/communities.htm
SOURCE: Fluoride Action Network http://www.FluorideAction.Net
References:
(1) “Adding fluoride to water supplies,” British Medical Journal, KK Cheng, Iain Chalmers, Trevor A. Sheldon, October 6, 2007
quite a can of worms, huh? lots of opinions and research for both sides. all I know is most dentists are pro-fluoride and want to prevent cavities in patients. the whole industry is really preventative. We could nearly put ourselves out of business if people would just take our professional advice. about 5 years ago the majority of Utah state introduced fluoride in Salt Lake and one other county that made up the majority of the population. most dental hygienists are for it--I guess I've never met 'douglas'
Fluoride is a naturally occur substance in water that needs to monitor to make sure there is not too much and not too little.
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