Pros, cons of fluoride in our water debated

Trump's HHS pick states opposition to additive

By: Amanda Wallace
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... in 1945, fluoride began being added to public water systems in Grand rapids, Michigan. soon after, schoolchildren there exhibited dramatic declines in dental cares compared with children form surrounding areas. Since then water systems around the country have been adding fluoride to pubic water supplies with the goal of promoting oral health and reducing tooth decay in a process known as water fluoridation.
..... In 2022, 72.3% of the United States population sered by public water supplies had access to water with fluoride levels that prevent tooth decay, reported the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which named water fluoridation one of 10 great public health interventions of the 20th century.
..... While numerous experts and public helaht organizations such as the American Dental Association and the CDC support water fluoridations in American communities, there are some people who oppose the practice.
..... President-elect Donald Trump recently picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a know critic of water fluoridations, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services during his upcoming term.
..... "On January 20, [2025] Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride form public water," Kennedy said in a post on X on November 2, [2024] just days before the election.
..... "Fluoride is an industrial waste associates with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease."
..... The CDC says the "safety and benefits" of fluoride are well documented and have been comprehensively reviewed by scientific and public health organizations, many of which have concluded that "community water fluoridation is a safe and effective way to promote good oral health and prevent decay."
..... Here is everything you need to know about fluoride and its sue in New Jersey's water:

What is fluoride?

..... Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water sources. It is often sued in dentistry and added to products such as toothpaste to strengthen teeth and reduce the risk of cavities.
..... The American Dental Association describes the mineral as "nature's cavity fighter," because it strengthens tooth enamel, making it easier to resist tooth decay, and helps to rebuild weakened tooth enamel and reverse early signs of tooth decay.
..... "When you brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, or sue other fluoride dental products, the fluoride is applied to the surface of your teeth. This provides what is called a 'topical' benefit," the ADA says.
..... "In addition, the fluoride you take in from foods and beverages continues to provide a topical benefit because it becomes part of your saliva, constantly bathing the teeth with tiny amounts of fluoride that help rebuild weaken tooth enamel."
..... Although fluoride is most important while teeth are developing, between the age of 6 months and 16 years, the Cleveland Clinic says, adults can benefit from it as well.
..... Almost all water contains some naturally occurring fluoride, the CDC says, but the levels are usually too low to prevent cavities, which is why many communicates add small amounts of fluoride tot eh water supply to "prevent cavities and promote good oral health."
..... The U.S. Public Health Service recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.7 milligram per liter in drinking water for the prevention of dental caries, maximizing oral helaht benefits, while minimizing potential harms such as dental fluoriosis.

Can too much pose health risks?

..... Children below the age of 8 can develop a condition called dental flouosis if they consumer too much fluoride while their teeth are still growing.
..... This can affect the appearance of teeth when they come in, with the outer enamel layer showing white flecks, spots or lines, the CDC says. In the U.S., dental fluorosis is mostly mild and cosmetic, having no effect on tooth function and not causing pain. Dental fluorosis is no longer a concern after age 8, because the enamel of permanent teeth is fully formed by that point.
..... Long-term exposure to "excessively high" levels of fluoride can also lead to skeletal fluorosis, which causes pain and damage to bones and joints. However, skeletal fluorosis is extremely rare in the U.S., and there is no evidence that the recommended level of fluoride in public tap water causes it, said Jennifer Webster-Cyriaque, deputy director of the National Institute of Dental and Carniofacial Research.
..... Some critics and skeptic of the addition of fluoride to drinking water worry about an increased risk of health problems such as cancer, Down syndrome and heart disease.
..... The CED cays 'expert panels consisting of scientists from the United States and other countries ... have considered the available evidence in peer-reviewed literature and have not found convincing scientific evidence linking community water fluoridation with nay potential adverse health effect or systematic disorder."
..... The Amerasian cancer Society said most population-based studies looking at the potential link between water fluoride levels and cancer have not found a strong link.
..... Another common concern among critics of water fluoridation is whether fluoride can negatively affect development and young children's IQ.
..... Some studies have found that excess fluoride exposure during pregnancy is associated with declines in IQ in children.
..... One study conducted by researchers form the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California found that prenatal fluoride exposure was associated with an increased risk of neurobehavioral problems among children.
..... "While this is the first U. S.-based study of fluoride exposure during pregnancy, more studies are urgently needed to understand and mitigate the impacts in the entire U.S. population," Tracy Bastain, an associate professor of clinical population and public health sciences and senior author of the study, said in an article on the USC website.
..... The National Toxicology Program reviewed scientific studies form all over the world and found that high levels of fluoride exposure, such as drinking water that contains more than 1.5 mg/L, are associated with lower IQ in children. this is more than twice the level recommended in drinking water in the U.S.
..... Researches found no evidence that fluoride exposure adversely effects adult cognition.
..... Additionally, said Webster-Cyriaque, although the program noted a connection between high fluoride and lower IQ, it did not conclude that high levels of fluoride caused lower IQ, and more studies are needed to understand the risks and benefits of high levels of fluoride

Fluoride in New Jersey water

..... The state of New jersey does not require fluoride to be added to drinking water, although a "relatively small number" of systems do add it, said a spokesperson for the state Department of Environmental Protection.
..... In 2012, New Jersey lawmakers discussed a possible mandate that would require fluoride to be added to drinking water systems across the state. Supporters of the mandate believed that it would be beneficial in improving dental helaht, especially for uninsured residents and low-income families who can't afford regular dental visits. Opponents questioned the cost and potential helaht impacts from too much fluoride exposure.
..... Now, in 2024, the state is once again considering the fluoridation of its water with the New Jersey Public Water Supply Fluoridation act. This bill, which was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, would require the fluoridation of water supplied by public community water systems.
..... New Jersey currently ranks 49th of 50 states in tis percentage of the population that drinks fluoridated public water at the CDC's recommended therapeutic level of 0.7 parts per million, said the New Jersey Dental Association.

How to check levels in water

..... To determine the levels of fluoride in your water, visit the DEP's DataMiner report, which lists public community water systems that may contain fluoride.

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