NYC drinking water

NEW YORK, New York--Breaking away from dental school dogma, more dentists are speaking out against fluoridation.

According to the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, fluoride chemicals added to New York City’s water supply, intended to reduce tooth decay--are actually a money-wasting health risk.

Seven NYC council members sponsored legislation and residents are petitioning Mayor Bloomberg to stop fluoridation to preserve money and health www.change.org/petitions/stop-fluoridation-in-new-york-city.

Pinellas County, Fla., legislators voted out fluoridation two days ago.

Hydrofluosilicic acid, a lead and arsenic-laced chemical left-over from making phosphate fertilizer, is considered to be NYC’s primary fluoride chemical. Fluoridation cost the city approximately $25 million in 2008.

Dentist Caree Alexander, a former Navy practitioner and a private practice dentist for 20 years, says fluoridation is “totally ineffective and actually damaging as well.

“When I graduated from University, we weren’t given any information about where [fluoride] came from," Dr. Alexander said. "We all assumed it was [pharmaceutical-grade] calcium fluoride.”

NYC dentist and Huffington Post contributor, Dr. Thomas Connelly, wrote, “I do not see the good in fluoridating our drinking water....To me, the ‘bad’ it can (potentially) do outweighs the good.”

Dr. Andrew Harms, former presiden of the Australian Dental Association who once supported fluoridation, said, “I deeply regret this…when I did read the science about 10 years ago, I started to get serious concerns.

“To my amazement, when I tried to raise the issue with the [Australian] Dental Association, whom I thought were interested in the science and … integrity, there was no interest," added Dr. Harms in Firewater, a video documentary. "In fact, there was a lot of pressure against me to say anything at all. There was a great concern about upsetting our principle sponsors, the toothpaste manufacturers, who heavily compromise our University."

Dentist Hardy Limeback, PhD, University of Toronto professor and head of preventive dentistry, apologized for promoting fluoridation because toxicology research shows the purported benefits no longer outweigh the risks.

Dentist Bill Osmunson, Fluoride Action Network spokesperson, promoted fluoridation for 25 years until patients persuaded him to read the science.

“It [was] like a knee in the gut,” he said. “Science has turned against fluoridation and we must stop adding fluoride to water.”

Dentist David Kennedy, International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, past president and fluoride information officer, said: “Water fluoridation delivers a drug to infants at a level which would be gross malpractice if prescribed by a physician or dentist.”

IAOMT is a network of dental, medical and research professionals which supports the effort to inform consumers about health risks from water fluoridation.

Over 3790 professionals, including 324 dentists, signed a statement opposing water fluoridation. See the statement at www.fluoridealert.org/professionals-statement.aspx.

Attorney Paul Beeber, NYSCOF president, said: “The National Research Council reported that fluoride, even at levels used for fluoridation, can damage bones and teeth, disrupt thyroid function, be harmful to kidney patients, and that studies linking fluoride to lowered IQ and cancer are plausible.”

Sugar-free polyol gum, lozenges and hard candy, nonfluoride varnishes help prevent cavities

Dentist Jennifer Luke, PhD, said: “My [published] work showed that fluoride accumulates in the human pineal gland and lowers melatonin production in animals. I find it extraordinary that no government promoting fluoridation has chosen to pursue these worrying findings.”

Elise Bassin, dentist and Doctor of Medical Science, published scientific evidence showing that fluoride can increase the risk of osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer) in boys and young men.

About 250 communities have stopped fluoridation in recent years.

“All New York state communities should stop fluoridation as soon as possible,” said Beeber.

For more information, go to www.fluoridation.webs.com.

To comment on this subject, go to community.pennwelldentalgroup.com/.

References available upon request at [email protected].