Is fluoride always worth the risks?

Even after many years of widespread fluoride use, and even within the dental community, debate over fluoride’s safety carries. Here’s why this persists, what to know about fluoride in drinking water and dental products, and alternatives to think about.

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References

1. The story of fluoridation. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Reviewed July 2018. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/fluoride/the-story-of-fluoridation
2. Water fluoridation and cancer risk. American Cancer Society. Reviewed November 18, 2022. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/water-fluoridation-and-cancer-risk.html
3. Timeline for community water fluoridation. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed April 28, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/basics/timeline.html
4. Fluoride fact sheet for health professionals. National Institutes of Health. Updated August 15, 2023. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Fluoride-HealthProfessional/
5. Drinking water regulations and containments. United States Environmental Protection Agency. February 14, 2023. https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/drinking-water-regulations-and-contaminants
6. Fluoride overdose. Mount Sinai. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/poison/fluoride-overdose
7. Burger D. A tale of two cities finds that community water fluoridation prevents caries. ADA News. August 10, 2021. https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2021/august/community-water-fluoridation-prevents-caries/
8. Carcaramo J. Hydroxyapatite: a way to brush your teeth with their natural components? RDH. September 18, 2022. https://www.rdhmag.com/patient-care/article/14280332/hydroxyapatite-a-way-to-brush-your-teeth-with-their-natural-components