Why Do They Put Fluoride In Water? 27/09/2021 by Luke Why do they put fluoride in water, and who are ‘they’ anyhow? To answer the ‘they’ part of this question, we are talking about (in the vast majority of cases) are State state-run or funded bodies set up as Water Treatment agencies to fulfil a specific function through water treatment facilities. Most water treatment facilities around the world will add several chemicals to local water sources. They will add these chemicals to treat the water and kill off harmful bacteria. While treating our water to remove harmful bacteria is certainly a good thing, we do need to question what the consequences of adding certain chemicals are, and what these chemicals do to our bodies when we consume the water containing them. As I write this, I cannot help but recall the words of wisdom shared with me by a Naturopath in her late 60’s where she said “All medicine is merely poison in small doses.” Meaning, too much of something with an underlying good intention can be harmful. Before we dive too much deeper into this topic, what you find here is not provided as medical advice. If you have a condition then seek medical support from a trusted and qualified professional. This content is provided as a means for stimulating discussion and learning through further research. As discussed in our article on the dangers of chlorine in water, adding chemicals can cause unwanted side effects. Fluoride is no different. While it can remove harmful bacteria, it can also cause unwanted side effects. Please keep in mind that water treatment facilities are good for the overall health of the population as they can stop serious diseases and contaminants from entering our drinking water. 1 Why do they put Fluoride in Water? The official story from way back when is that fluoride was added to water to help fight tooth decay. And this is still the popular consensus today. Fluoride certainly is great for overall oral health and mouth hygiene. However, the official narrative of “fighting tooth decay” is not entirely accurate. A study published back in 2017 showed some very interesting results which we will refer to throughout this article. As for the conclusion of the study, it was quoted in regards to tooth decay: 2 “…it must be emphasized that tooth decay (dental caries) is not caused by fluoride deficiency, and fluoride supplementation will never reverse the active or gross carious lesions.” M. S. Zafar The original concept of adding fluoride to drinking water came from an observation in 1930. It was observed that communities that had access to drinking water with naturally occurring fluoride had lower rates of tooth decay. Based on the study’s findings, it is fair to say that this would make sense, as better oral health would lead to a lower chance of tooth decay. Since 1945, fluoride has been added to water sources around the world to combat tooth decay. However, the fluoride that is added to water supplies is not the same type of naturally occurring calcium fluoride looked at in this study. Most treated water sources intended for human consumption will have sodium fluoride added to them instead, which is a synthetic compound. 3 4 What is the Difference Between Natural and Synthetic Fluoride in Water? Naturally occurring fluoride (calcium fluoride) in water is formed through rainwater coming into contact with windblown soils. The soil will provide fluoride to the water source as the soil breaks down. Synthetic fluoride (sodium fluoride) is a manufactured (man-made) chemical. It is created by engineering a specific reaction where the process involves mixing hydrofluoric acid with sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide. It has to be manufactured as this type of fluoride does not occur in nature. Naturally occurring fluoride is certainly the healthier of the two fluorides. However, excess fluoride consumption from either type can have negative health consequences. Excess fluoride consumption can lead to a condition called fluorosis. Fluorosis comes in two forms, dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis. 5 6 What is Dental Fluorosis and Skeletal Fluorosis? Dental and skeletal fluorosis are both conditions that are bad for your health. Although one is much worse than the other, both should be avoided/mitigated if possible: Dental Fluorosis Dental fluorosis is usually just cosmetic and only has health concerns beginning at moderate fluorosis. While it is in a weaker state, dental fluorosis will show up as small, white dots/areas on teeth. As it grows more severe, these dots grow larger and can eventually colour the whole tooth. The colour can also change from white to brown, making the tooth look corroded. In more serious cases, teeth can also be permanently weakened and may even have permanent physical damage. Skeletal Fluorosis Skeletal fluorosis is a bone disease that can affect people who intake too much fluoride. The high intake of fluoride could be from multiple sources. Intakes such as drinking ...