Oral Systemic Diseases

Question: Why is our water fluoridated? If the mechanism of its benefits are topical not systemic why are we drinking it? http://www.fluoridealert.org/50-reasons.... This isn't a conspiracy theory, read all of the 50 reasons before answering the question please and then formulate an opinion based upon those facts or those that you can find supporting fluoridation. But don't respond with insults, that just makes you small minded. This is an actual issue, when a known carcinogenic mutagen is in public water it is a safety hazard and shouldn't be tolerated. Educate yourselves. Excerpts from the article, facts you didn't know: Aluminum fluoride was recently nominated by the Environmental Protection Agency and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for testing by the National Toxicology Program. According to EPA and NIEHS, aluminum fluoride currently has a "high health research priority" due to its "known neurotoxicity" (BNA, 2000). If fluoride is added to water which contains aluminum, than aluminum fluoride complexes will form. Fluoride has been shown to be mutagenic, cause chromosome damage and interfere with the enzymes involved with DNA repair in a variety of cell and tissue studies (Tsutsui 1984; Caspary 1987; Kishi 1993 and Mihashi 1996). Recent studies have also found a correlation between fluoride exposure and chromosome damage in humans (Sheth 1994; Wu 1995; Meng 1997 and Joseph 2000). Fluoride administered to animals at high doses wreaks havoc on the male reproductive system - it damages sperm and increases the rate of infertility in a number of different species (Kour 1980; Chinoy 1989; Chinoy 1991; Susheela 1991; Chinoy 1994; Kumar 1994; Narayana 1994a, b; Zhao 1995; Elbetieha 2000; Ghosh 2002 and Zakrzewska 2002). While studies conducted at the FDA have failed to find reproductive effects in rats (Sprando 1996, 1997, 1998), an epidemiological study from the US has found increased rates of infertility among couples living in areas with 3 or more ppm fluoride in the water (Freni 1994), and 2 studies have found a reduced level of circulating testosterone in males living in high fluoride areas (Susheela 1996 and Barot 1998). ) Once fluoride is put in the water it is impossible to control the dose each individual receives. This is because 1) some people (e.g. manual laborers, athletes, diabetics, and people with kidney disease) drink more water than others, and 2) we receive fluoride from sources other than the water supply. Other sources of fluoride include food and beverages processed with fluoridated water (Kiritsy 1996 and Heilman 1999), fluoridated dental products (Bentley 1999 and Levy 1999), mechanically deboned meat (Fein 2001), teas (Levy 1999), and pesticide residues on food (Stannard 1991 and Burgstahler 1997). Fluoridation is unethical because individuals are not being asked for their informed consent prior to medication. This is standard practice for all medication, and one of the key reasons why most of western Europe has ruled against fluoridation (see appendix 2). As one doctor aptly stated, "No physician in his right senses would prescribe for a person he has never met, whose medical history he does not know, a substance which is intended to create bodily change, with the advice: 'Take as much as you like, but you will take it for the rest of your life because some children suffer from tooth decay.’ It is a preposterous notion." Since dental decay is most concentrated in poor communities, we should be spending our efforts trying to increase the access to dental care for poor families. The real "Oral Health Crisis" that exists today in the United States, is not a lack of fluoride but poverty and lack of dental insurance. The Surgeon General has estimated that 80% of dentists in the US do not treat children on Medicaid. Despite the fact that we are exposed to far more fluoride today than we were in 1945 (when fluoridation began), the "optimal" fluoridation level is still 1 part per million, the same level deemed optimal in 1945! (Marier & Rose 1977; Levy 1999; Rozier 1999 and Fomon 2000). The chemicals used to fluoridate water in the US are not pharmaceutical grade. Instead, they come from the wet scrubbing systems of the superphosphate fertilizer industry. These chemicals (90% of which are sodium fluorosilicate and fluorosilicic acid), are classified hazardous wastes contaminated with various impurities. Recent testing by the National Sanitation Foundation suggest that the levels of arsenic in these chemicals are relatively high (up to 1.6 ppb after dilution into public water) and of potential concern (NSF 2000 and Wang 2000). These hazardous wastes have not been tested comprehensively. The chemical usually tested in animal studies is pharmaceutical grade sodium fluoride, not industrial grade fluorosilicic acid. The assumption being made is that by the time this waste product has been diluted, all the fluorosilicic acid will have been converted into free fluoride ion, and the other toxics and radioactive isotopes will be so dilute that they will

Answer: Your information is good and the only problem is that there is much more information that further indicates people supporting fluoridation are ignorant and are only following some form of INDOCTRINATION by other ignorant people. The National Kidney Foundation has issued a statement AGAINST FLUORIDATION because of the damage it does to kidneys and especially anyone with weak or damaged kidneys. The practice is complete stupidity and must be stopped. The documents and research that is always sited in support of fluoridation is flawed greatly and simply BAD SCIENCE. good luck

Question: I need an upper partial, so I can smile and have a better chance of getting a job. What will it cost? Read on. I've lived a dental nightmare all of my life. Born with three sets of teeth, I required oral surgery three times by the age of 8yrs. Braces from age 10 to 15yrs. Retainer til I was 18. Combination of Systemic Lupus, and Hashimoto's disease, both of which can adversely effect teeth. I'm 40 now, I've had 21 root canals, most of which went bad because previous insurance wouldn't approve crowns after treatment. What I'm left with is #'s: 3, 4, 9, 11, and 15 in my upper teeth. Unemployed and broke, I don't stand a chance of getting a job if I can't smile during my interview. I have two children, and just under $1,000 to my name. I'm a recent single mom. I desperately need at least an upper partial, so I can go out and get a job with confidence. How much am I looking at spending? All answers are appreciated, but especially dental practices in So. Calif., because this is where I'm located, and sometimes costs vary with geographic location. Thank You.

Answer: Go to a dental training school and they can help you due to your circumstances for a reduced fee. There are waiting lists.