Fluoride! Dental friend, or brain foe?
What’s lurking in your drinking water?
The evolution of research and new information often require us to be open to revising our beliefs. Decades ago, adding fluoride to water gained support due to observations made largely by one man. It was touted that dental health benefited from water fluoridation, and today most dentists still promote the use of fluoride. Since then, much research has shown that there are significant implications and differences between the impact of fluoride internally versus topically. 97% of Western Europe has rejected water fluoridation and considering how important water is for every aspect of health, perhaps those of us in water-fluoridated countries should educate ourselves and act accordingly to purify the water in our homes and for our children.
A landmark federal lawsuit underway in the USA claims the public health risk of fluoridated water is especially harmful for the developing brain of babies and children. 64 studies have linked fluoride with reduced cognitive function and IQ in children, and studies also show that the IQ score of children subject to maternal fluoride exposure during pregnancy are significantly affected.
“Fluoride is a developmental neurotoxicant at levels of exposure seen in the general population in water fluoridated communities” - Dr. Howard Hu, MD, MPH, ScD; senior investigator on NIH public health and fluoride studies.
“IQ losses associated with community water fluoridation are substantial and of significant public health concern” – Dr Philipe Grandjean, TSCA Fluoride Lawsuit 2020.
SLEEP and MOOD can be affected by fluoride exposure because the pineal gland, tucked away in our brain but outside the blood brain barrier, is the endocrine gland responsible for melatonin production and regulating sleep/wake cycles. It can be the most fluoride-saturated organ in the body and become calcified, causing melatonin deficiency and consequential mood and sleep problems.
Brain function is not the only casualty of water fluoridation. Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of bone tissue and joints, and can be induced by skeletal fluorosis. This is particularly significant as when rates of osteoarthritis in water fluoridated communities has been measured against their water fluoridation timeline, the parallel increase is alarming.
But isn’t fluoride added to water to help protect against tooth decay? Apparently! However everyone consumes different amounts of water and has variable health profiles subjecting us all to different absorption rates and sensitivities. The studies mentioned above involved regular community water supplies which makes it an everyday concern for everyday people.
Ok so fluoridated water sucks, what do we do?
Get a WATER FILTER! It’s important to make sure it specifically removes fluoride. I love mine, I have the 5L bench-top model found HERE. It not only removes fluoride and other nasties, but it remineralises and alkalises water. Now when I drink tap water is tastes like metal!
A much better way to PREVENT TOOTH DECAY is to avoid sugary foods, consume a diet that promotes skeletal strength, get plenty of sunshine (which is essential for calcium homeostasis), and manage your dental hygiene.
Use FLUORIDE FREE TOOTHPASTE – found in most supermarkets and health food stores.
And NUTRITIONALLY – you can take measures to detox from fluoride. This would involve the following:
Drink fluoride free tea and coffee (hey, water filter!)
Antioxidant foods!
Vitamin C
Bone broth
Magnesium – veg veg veg!
Increase intake of herbs and spices
Use leafy greens and leafy herbs all the time
Stick to organic foods
Also, AVOID TEFLON COOKWARE (the non-stick stuff). It contains fluoride particles which leech into your food when cooking.
Check your MEDS! Avoid medications loaded with fluoride (which is a lot of them) And importantly,
Exercise! SWEAT! This stimulates detox and elimination.
GET SUNSHINE – every day get your limbs out to boost calcium and bone health.
SUPPLEMENTS can be a huge benefit – under the guidance of a nutritionist or naturopath. Contact Sarah to enquire about a consult to learn more.
If you have got to the end of this blog post then well done, it’s a nerdy/boring topic but hella important considering it’s our water we are talking about!
A great data base of articles about fluoride can be visited here.
If you would like guidance with your current health complaints, click here and enquire about 1 on 1 health consults. I would love to help you! Love, Sarah