Fluoride endgame approaches....

hoodwinked wrote: »

i lived on tap water in my teenage years, could drink a few pints of it in a day,


never did much harm other than giving me unbelievably healthy teeth compared to the amount of junk food and fizzy drinks (and the fact i eat lemons like oranges which apparently is bad for your teeth ) i was also consuming!

(i say unbelievable as my dentist still cannot believe the amount of sweets i eat and how good my teeth are - we put it down to the tap water i still drink and use to brush daily)

alastair wrote: »

It's the usual conspiracy nonsense. For another perspective:

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/antifluoridation-bad-science/#more-22052

Fluoride
In 1901, whilst working in Naples, an American physician, J.M. Eager, documented a high frequency concerning enamel defects and stained teeth in his patients. In 1930 H.V. Churchill investigated the cause of this mottled enamel. Using a new analytical method on the water supplies of the affected patients, he found high concentrations of fluoride at 13.7 parts per million (p.p.m.). Subsequent water analysis from other affected areas also revealed high fluoride concentrations ranging from 2p.p.m to 12p.p.m.[4] Excessive fluoridation was confirmed as the cause for the enamel defects and stained teeth.[5] Then in 1942, Dr. H. Trendley Dean demonstrated that areas with a drinking water supply fluoride content of 1p.p.m., the incidence of dental caries in children was below average, without the consequence of mottled enamel which occurred with a fluoride level in excess of 2p.p.m. (Water Fluoridation and Public Health page 5.). “Dental caries is a dynamic process characterized by episodic demineralisation and remineralisation occurring over time.”[6] As of the understanding that fluoride may be beneficial to the teeth, there was mass fluoridation around the world. In 1964 the Irish Supreme Court decided to implement water fluoridation to the country, despite the challenge of a Mrs Ryan regarding the ethical issue of consumption choice behind the move. [4] At this moment in time, roughly 73% of the Irish population receives a fluoridated water supply, containing an average of 0.8p.p.m. [7] Fluoride has now been shown to decrease the incidence of caries in Irish children. In non-fluoridated areas the “halo effect”, “the presence of fluoride in common items of food and drink which are manufactured in the larger fluoridated towns and cities and then distributed widely in surrounding non-fluoridated areas”, of fluoride is accountable for a reduction in the incidence of caries.[4]
One way of assessing how effective fluoride has been for improving the oral health of Irish children in the last fifty years is to compare them to their Northern Irish counterparts, who do not receive fluoridated water.[4] In 2002, the incidence of caries in five year olds living in the Republic of Ireland was 44% lower than those living in the North of Ireland. Also, the DMFT among the fifteen year olds of the Republic of Ireland was 42% lower than those living in Northern Ireland. In the last fifty years, there has been a big decrease in dmft values in Ireland.
Indicators of dental caries in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas in the Southern Health Board region
12 year old children
Non-Fluoridated Area
Fluoridated Area DMFT Score in: 1984 1995
4.1 1.8
3.3 1.3
15 year old children
Non-Fluoridated Area
Fluoridated Area DMFT Score in: 1984 1995
6.8 4.3
5.4 2.8

[Reference: O’ Connor, M., Fitzpatrick, P., Johnson, H. & Thornton, L. (1999) “Water Fluoridation and Public Health” Faculty of Public Health Medicine Royal College of Physicians of Ireland pp. 14]

Since the mass fluoridation of water there has been a reduction of dental caries by approximately 70%. [7] Despite fluoride’s fundamental role in reducing caries incidence, it cannot prevent pit and fissure caries. This is because the fluoride ions cannot pass into the narrow fissures of the tooth’s occlusal surface. [8]
Water fluoridation is not the only method of introducing fluoride to the body. The prevalent use of toothpaste has also contributed to the decline in caries incidence. Studies have shown a synergistic relationship between fluoridated water and fluoridated toothpastes, i.e. they have a greater benefit when used simultaneously than when either is used alone.[4]
Topical fluorides are also available, which are recommended for at-risk patients. Fluoride gel use is recommended for those aged 6 and over, 5% sodium fluoride varnishes recommended for all age groups. Fluoride varnish efficacy and safety are well-supported by extensive studies and trials.
Mean dmft of 12-year old children in Eastern Health Board region (greater Dublin area), 1961-97. The years shown are 1961, 1984, 1993 and 1997 respectively
[Reference: Clarkson J., Mc Loughlin, J. & O’ Hickey S. (2002) “Water Fluoridation in Ireland – A Success Story” Discovery. 82(5), pp. 334-337]

References
[1] Daly, B., Watt, R., Batchelor, P. & Treasure, E. (2005) Essential Public Dental Health. London: Oxford University Press, pp. 79-81 & 204
[2] WHO (1987) Oral Health Surveys Basic Methods. Available at: http://whocollab.od.mah.se/expl/orhcpitn.html (Accessed: 10 March 2012)
[3] Ertugay, E. et al. (2001) “The Use of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Needs (IOTN) in a School Population and Referred Population”, Journal of Orthodontics, Vol. 28, No. 1, 45-52, March 2001, ManeyJournals [Online]. Available at: http://jorthod.maneyjournals.org/cgi/content/full/28/1/45 (Accessed: 10 March 2012)
[4] Department of Health and Children, Fottrell, P. et al. (2002) “Forum on Fluoridation Ireland – Executive Summary”, History of Water Fluoridation. Available at: http://www.fluoridesandhealth.ie/background/fluoridation_forum.pdf (Accessed: 10 March 2012)
[5] Kidd, E. (2004) “Fluoride Supplementation” in Kidd, E. A.M. (eds.) Essentials of Dental Caries. London: Oxford University Press, pp. 114-117
[6] Murray, J.J. et al. (2005) “Dental Caries” in Mitchell, D., Mitchell, L. Oxford Handbook of Clinical Dentistry. 4th ed. London: Oxford University Press, pp. 28-30
[7] Dental Health Foundation Ireland (2011) Services for Children’s and Special Needs Groups. Available at: http://www.dentalhealth.ie/dentalhealth/services/specialneeds.html (Accessed: 10 March 2012)
[8] White, B. (1993) “Toward Improving the Oral Health of Americans: An overview of oral health status, resources and care delivery.” Public Health Reports 108:657-672
[9] Irish Dental Association (2010) “Dental Within the Health Boards”. Available at: http://www.dentist.ie/resources/services/mcdentistry.jsp (Accessed: 10 March 2012)
[10] Ormbsy, M. et al. (2010) “Evidence-based guidance on the use of sealants for the prevention and management of pit and fissure caries”, Dental Health. Available at: http://www.dentalhealth.ie/download/pdf/fs_guideline_online_final_v_2.pdf (Accessed: 10 March 2012
[11] UAB Magazine (1998) “Dentistry Then and Now – A Revolution In Care”, UAB Magazine, Spring 1998, Volume 18, no.2, Available at: http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=45954 (Accessed: 10 March 2012)
[12] Dentistry Today (2011) Jeffery M. Rosenberg DDS “Technology enhances caries diagnosis and treatment”, Available at: http://www.dentistrytoday.com/restorative/mid-restorative/4341-technology-enhances-caries-diagnosis+treatment (Accessed: 10 March 2012)
[13] Endo Experience (2011) “Local Anesthesia in Dentistry – Then and Now”, Available at: http://www.endoexperience.com/filecabinet/Clinical%20Endodontics/Anesthesia/Local%20Anesthetics%20in%20Dentistry.pdf. (Accessed: 10 March 2012)
[14] Your Dentistry Guide (2011) “Laser Dentistry: Enhancing dental treatment with laser” Lesley Ranft Available at: http://www.yourdentistryguide.com/laser/ (Accessed: 10 March 2012)
[15] Children’s Food Campaign (2011) Home Page “Food advertising to children”, Available at: http://www.childrensfoodcampaign.net/ (Accessed: 10 March 2012)
[16] HSE (2004) “Winning Smiles: Schools Oral Health Promotion Programme for 7-8 year olds”, Available at: http://www.lenus.ie/hse/bitstream/10147/45044/1/6777.pdf (Accessed: 10 March 2012)