According to
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 40 percent of
children between the ages of 3 and 6 use potentially dangerous amounts
of toothpaste
The CDC and
American Dental Association (ADA) recommend using no more than a
pea-sized amount for children in this age group, and those younger than 3
should use no more than the size of a rice grain on their toothbrush
Fluoride-containing
toothpastes have a warning on their label stating that “If you
accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help
or contact a poison control center immediately”
While
swallowing toothpaste is recognized as a cause for concern, drinking
fluoridated water is said to be not only safe but beneficial for your
teeth
Fluoridated
water is a far more significant source of fluoride exposure than
toothpaste. Recent research shows the prevalence of dental fluorosis
among 10- to 12-year-olds in three Ecuadorian provinces is nearly 90
percent; a positive statistical relationship was found between dental
fluorosis and consumption of bottled beverages
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 (CDC), 40 percent of children between the ages of 3 and 6 use potentially dangerous amounts of toothpaste.
The CDC and American Dental Association (ADA) recommend using no more
than a pea-sized amount for children in this age group, and those
younger than 3 should use no more than the size of a rice grain on their
toothbrush.
The problem with using excessive amounts of toothpaste has to do with the fluoride
it contains. If you look closely, you’ll find fluoride-containing
toothpastes have a warning on their label stating that “If you
accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help
or contact a poison control center immediately.”
This warning was made mandatory for fluoride-containing dental products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April, 1997.2
Ironically, while swallowing toothpaste is recognized as a cause for
concern, we’re supposed to believe that drinking fluoridated water at
any quantity is not only safe but beneficial for our teeth.
Too Much Fluoride Causes Dental Fluorosis
The fact of the matter is that fluoride is a toxic substance with no
known biological imperative. Researchers have even questioned its
efficacy as a topical anticaries prophylactic.3
Dental caries is caused by demineralization of your teeth by the
acids formed during the bacterial fermentation of dietary sugars.
Demineralization is countered by the deposit of minerals from your
saliva. However, the remineralization process is a slow one, and
fluoride is said to prevent dental caries by enhancing this
remineralization.
The problem is, your teeth do not actually rely on fluoride for remineralization. What’s more, research4
has concluded that the protective shield fluoride forms on teeth is up
to 100 times thinner than previously believed. It has long been believed
that fluoride changes the main mineral in tooth enamel, hydroxyapatite,
into a more-decay resistant material called fluorapatite.
However, the researchers found that the fluorapatite layer formed in
this way is only 6 nanometers thick — meaning it would take almost
10,000 such layers to span the width of a human hair. As noted by the
authors, “it has to be asked whether such narrow … layers really can act
as protective layers for the enamel.”
Meanwhile, fluoride has been shown to cause significant systemic harm
when ingested, which is part and parcel of the CDC’s new warning
against using too much toothpaste. As reported by the Chicago Sun Times:5
“Brushing with too much toothpaste can damage enamel, as children
could swallow too much fluoride while their teeth are developing, the
CDC says. This can cause dental fluorosis, white marks and discoloration
of teeth.”
However, dental fluorosis is just the tip of the iceberg when it
comes to fluoride damage. For example, evidence shows fluoride is an
endocrine disruptor that can affect your bones, brain, thyroid gland,
pineal gland and even your blood sugar level.6 Importantly, it’s a known neurotoxin, shown to lower IQ in children.7
Most US Kids Have Fluoride-Damaged Teeth
According to research8
presented at the April 2017 National Oral Health Conference in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 57 percent of youth between the ages of 6 and
19 years have dental fluorosis, a condition in which your tooth enamel
becomes progressively discolored and mottled.
When Fluoride Action Network (FAN) researchers analyzed the same set
of data, they found over 21 percent of adolescents had moderate
fluorosis and 2 percent had severe fluorosis.9
According to FAN, "The data suggests that up to 24 million
adolescents now have some form of dental fluorosis, with over 8 million
adolescents having moderate fluorosis, and 840,000 having severe
fluorosis." Incredibly, the situation is still worsening. According to
the most recent data, which has yet to be published, the dental
fluorosis rate in the U.S. may now be a staggering 65 percent.10
In stark contrast, when water fluoridation was first started in the
U.S. in 1945, it was promised that only 10 percent of people would
suffer from mild dental fluorosis at the then-recommended levels.11 Clearly, they were wrong.
In 2011, concerns over escalating fluorosis rates prompted the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services to lower the recommended level
of fluoride in drinking water, from a previously recommended range of 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L to 0.7 mg/L.
However, adverse effects, including reduced IQ, behavioral
alterations, neurochemical changes, hypothyroidism and attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been demonstrated even at that lower
level, so while it reduced exposure for many, the most serious risks
remain.
What’s more, reduced IQ has been seen in study participants with
higher urinary fluoride concentrations even when no dental fluorosis was
present, which suggests the doses of fluoride that impair cognitive
ability are far lower than those that cause severe dental fluorosis.12
Fluoridated Water Likely a Far Greater Concern Than Excessive Toothpaste
Unfortunately, public health officials often brush off fluorosis as a
purely aesthetic issue, one they believe is an okay trade-off for the
supposed benefits of fluoride. In reality, dental fluorosis is an
outward sign that fluoride is damaging the body in other ways as well.
Research has found impairment in cognitive abilities among children
with fluorosis (even mild fluorosis) compared to children with no
fluorosis, for example. Studies have also found that children with
higher levels of fluorosis have increased rates of cavities13,14 — a finding that suggests more is definitely not better, not even when it comes to protecting against cavities.
Importantly, the CDC completely ignores the role fluoridated water
plays in this epidemic, as toothpaste is by far not the only source of
fluoride for young children, and probably isn’t the most significant
source either.
In a January, 2019 study15
in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry, the prevalence
of dental fluorosis among 10- to 12-year-olds in three Ecuadorian
provinces was nearly 90 percent. According to the authors, “A positive
statistical relationship and statistical significance was detected
between dental fluorosis and consumption of bottled beverages.”
A “low negative” relationship between fluorosis and brushing with
adult toothpaste without help suggests fluoridated water (used in
bottled beverages) is likely to be a greater risk factor than toothpaste
exposure, although toothpaste ingestion may still play a role.
CDC and Mainstream Media Ignore the Elephant in the Room
In response to the CDC’s toothpaste warning, FAN writes:16
“A spate of news stories … focused on kids swallowing too much
toothpaste. But according to Paul Connett, Ph.D., FAN Director, ‘The
defenders of water fluoridation are missing the real story. Dental
fluorosis is a biomarker of over-exposure to fluoride and the 'elephant
in the room' is what damage fluoride is doing to other tissues.’
Recent scientific research indicates that exposure to fluoridated water may lower thyroid function17,18
and 350 published studies indicate that fluoride can damage the brain …
While it is understandable that die-hard promoters of fluoridation
should be fixated on any study dealing with teeth, it is less
understandable why the media should ignore fluoride's impact on the
brain.
The fetal brain is under attack from several environmental toxins19
but only one, fluoride, is deliberately added to our water. There are
safer ways to prevent dental caries than exposing the fetus to a
neurotoxicant … Repeating the dogma that fluoridation is "safe and
effective" many times does not make it so.
Connett urges more scientists to overcome this dogma and
intimidation and review the brain studies themselves … fluoride-brain
studies are readily accessible.20
Connett added that, ‘I believe that the intellectual ability of future
generations depends on their willingness to do this. Neither
intimidation nor dogma has a place in science or public health.’"
Protecting Your Dental Health Has Nothing to Do With Fluoride
When it comes to good oral hygiene and preventing cavities, it’s
important to realize that drinking fluoridated water and brushing with
fluoridated toothpaste is not the answer. It's far more important to
address your nutrition and basic oral care. Here’s a five-step plan that
can help you improve your oral health, without the use of toxic agents
such as fluoride:
1. Reduce your net carbohydrate intake
to meet your insulin level requirement. I suggest you reduce your
overall net carbs (total grams of carbohydrates minus your grams of
fiber intake) if your fasting insulin level is over 5.
Aside from sugar, avoid carbs like beans, legumes and grains such as
rice, quinoa and oats, as well as highly-processed grain products like
bread, pasta, cereal, chips, bagels and fries. These begin digestion in
the mouth and impact the health of your teeth the most.
Limit your daily fructose intake to 25 grams or less. Even fructose
found in fresh fruit should be limited until you’ve normalized your
insulin and leptin levels. If you’re already struggling with Type 2
diabetes or insulin resistance, consider restricting your total fructose
to 15 grams per day until your insulin sensitivity has been restored.
Focus on eating a diet of fresh, whole foods, including grass fed meats and organic and fermented vegetables.
This helps ensure you get plenty of minerals for strong bones and
teeth. If needed, consider adding one or more nutritional supplements to
support your oral health. 2. Brush twice or three times a day, 3 to 6 minutes after drinking and/or eating. 3. Use nonfluoridated toothpaste, or make
your own. For example, you could simply mix coconut oil and baking soda
with a pinch of Himalayan salt. High-quality peppermint essential oil
can be added for flavor and cavity prevention. Start with a couple of
tablespoons of coconut oil and baking soda, and add more of one or the
other until you get an agreeable consistency. (Slightly firmer
consistency tends to be easier to use.)
If buying non-fluoridated toothpaste, be sure to check the ingredient
list for other harmful ingredients such as triclosan, sodium lauryl
sulfate, propylene glycol, diethanolamine and parabens. 4. Floss daily. 5. Pull with coconut oil once a day,
ideally first thing in the morning, for five to 10 minutes to reduce
bacterial growth, strengthen your teeth, reduce bad breath and lower
your risk of gum disease.
To Protect Your Child’s Teeth, Bones and Brain, Avoid Fluoride From All Sources
For instructions on how to brush and floss properly, as well as oil pulling guidelines, see “Dental Dedication: Improve Your Oral Health.”
In the video above, Bill Osmunson, a practicing dentist and staunch
advocate against fluoride, also discusses some of the variables that
contribute to good oral hygiene (summarized above).
Remember, by avoiding sugars and processed foods, you prevent the
proliferation of the bacteria that cause decay in the first place.
Following up with proper brushing and flossing and getting regular
cleanings with a mercury-free biological dentist will ensure that your
teeth and gums stay healthy naturally.
Many natural substances, such as vitamins C and K2, Coenzyme Q10 and
homeopathic tissue salts such as silica, calcarea fluorica (calcium
fluoride, not to be confused with sodium fluoride found in toothpaste),
calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate, also have the power to improve
the health of your teeth and gums.
Fluoride really has no major advantage, only hazards. And those
hazards go far beyond the visible signs of dental fluorosis. Far worse
is the damage that occurs inside the body, which you cannot see.
So, in addition to teaching your children about proper nutrition and
oral care, be mindful about limiting their fluoride exposure from all
sources, including toothpaste and other dental products, fluoridated
water, fluoridated pesticides (and hence pesticide contaminated foods),
bottled beverages such as juices and teas, fast food packaging,
non-stick pots and pans, fluorinated drugs, fluoridated table salt and
mechanically deboned chicken.
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