Study: Fluoridation Benefits Doubtful

NEW YORK, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Achieving cavity-free status has
little to do with fluoride intake, reports a study in the Fall 2008 Journal of
Public Health Dentistry.

The ongoing Iowa Fluoride Study (IFS), begun in 1992, follows a cohort of
children from birth. Researchers measure fluoride use and ingestion, count
cavities and document fluorosis - white spotted, yellow and/or brown stained
teeth - the outward sign of fluoride over-ingestion.

IFS researchers report, "The benefits of fluoride are mostly topical...while
fluorosis is clearly more dependent on fluoride intake."

They explain that when fluoridation began in the 1940's, "it was believed that
fluoride needed to be ingested early in life to provide [cavity]
prevention...Today, evidence suggests that...the benefits of fluoride are
mostly topical."

Fluoride chemicals are added to 70% of public water supplies at so-called
"optimal" levels (0.7 parts per million - 1.2 ppm), once believed to prevent
cavities.

The IFS researchers find that "firmly recommending an 'optimal' fluoride
intake is problematic." They agree with fluoride researchers Burt and Eklund
that the term "optimal fluoride intake" be dropped from common usage.

Quantifying fluoride intake is more complex than it was several decades ago
because of the widespread use of fluoridated dental products and increased
fluoride content of foods, they report.

"Thus, it is doubtful that parents or clinicians could adequately track
children's fluoride intake and compare it with the recommended level,
rendering the concept of an "optimal" or target intake relatively moot," they
write.

In 2003, IFS researchers wrote, "There is no specific nutritional requirement
for fluoride." They described the fluoride content of some foods. For example:

    --  Processed chicken:  4.4 ppm and 10.0 ppm fluoride
    --  Cereals:  3.8 to 6.3 ppm
    --  Creamed spinach: 2 ppm
    --  Soft drinks: up to 1.55 ppm
    --  Decaffeinated tea:  3.19 ppm
    --  White grape juice:  4 ppm
    --  Ready-to-feed infant formula:  from 0.15 to 0.30 ppm



"This well-done, long-term study by respected fluoride researchers, and
published piecemeal in several scientific journals, tells us that fluoride
ingestion, such as fluoridated water and supplements, is causing dental
defects with little, if any, benefit," says attorney Paul Beeber, President,
New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.

"Thus, fluoridation damages teeth, wastes money and must be stopped," says
Beeber.

Take action to end fluoridation here:  http://congress.FluorideAction.Net


References:  http://tinyurl.com/FluoridationDoubtful

CONTACT: Paul Beeber, JD, 516-433-8882, nyscof@aol.com



SOURCE  NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.

Paul Beeber, JD, of NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.,