#Fluoride use in children

[pterribledinosaurdrawings]

Toothpaste companies must really hate people who are allergic to mint toothpaste, which a lot of people are! Apparently it's NOT supposed to burn like minty hellfire? (I'm fine with mint candy, it's only mint toothpaste that hurts)

I've been using Tom's fennel for years, but am now trying to find one with fluoride in it, and finding a toothpaste that is no mint and yes fluoride should not be such a huge and infuriating quest. still got some more grocery stores to search, but not even the children's toothpaste in the nearest one had any that were suitable.

Edit: Hey you don't need to keep copying out the tags, I wrote all the Minty Hellfire lyrics here. And then someone recorded them here.

Also, I think it might technically be a sensitivity rather than an allergy, but whatever it is, toothpaste is not supposed to hurt! If it's burning then that's bad and you should try to find a new one if possible!

[ms-demeanor]

My mom has gone full on Youtube Woo "natural cures" and I have no idea how to get through to her. Literally sitting at home in front of the tv playing video after video of pseudoscientific bunk and lapping it up... She's diabetic and a cancer survivor and I fear she's gonna do irreparable damage in her forays into the deep end...

Do you have any tips on reaching folks that are in this deep?

Regular reinforcement of evidence-based medicine as kind as you can make it whenever it comes up.

"Oh I heard about this coffee enema thing..." "There's not really any evidence to back that up, mom, and besides, it sounds pretty unpleasant."

"Oh I heard about how nightshades are poison" "That book doesn't have a lot of great evidence, plus here are the kinds of micronutrients that you can get from nightshades, they're important in your diet."

"Oh I'm not sure about vaccines anymore, the new ones are so scary" "Mom, I'm so glad you got me vaccinated, I think about how kids younger than me are at risk of measles and other issues because of vaccine hesitancy and I worry so much for them, I think you made the right decision when I was a kid and I'm grateful for it."

"Oh, but fluoride in the water can cause IQ losses in young children," "Mom, those studies aren't in areas where fluoride is added, they're in areas where it's naturally high and are way, way above what gets added here, plus look at you and me, we have been drinking fluoridated water and we're both smart."

IDK, it's miserable. Basically you go on natural news and learn about all the lies, then spend twenty times as much time learning about the debunkings for all the lies and then try to be nice when you tell them they're wrong.

Since your mom has had previous successful treatment from allopathic doctors call back to that; "but mom I'm so glad they were able to take care of your cancer - I know it was hard but I think you might not have survived if you hadn't trusted your doctors." "but mom, look at how much the medical science on diabetes has improved in your lifetime; i'm glad it's easier to manage now than it was when you were younger, and that there are better treatments being developed all the time; I don't think they're hiding things from us otherwise they'd still treat diabetes and cancer like they did in the 50s, and things are so much better than that."

Just. Try to be nice. Try not to attack her. Try to keep it light and offer cheerful arguments before changing the subject.

You don't want her to get defensive, you want her to consider you to be someone she can ask for information who won't make fun of her and doesn't think she's stupid.

Anyway. Life with my mother in law has been fun recently. She watched a youtube video and decided she must have gone into ketosis after fasting for twelve hours so she ordered a bunch of protein strips and I'm cooking for her a few times a week to guarantee that she's eating something other than canned chili beans.

So. You know. I feel you.

[reality-detective]

The US government was recently forced to release a suppressed May 2022 report on the effects of fluoride on kids. The report concluded fluoride can cause neurological damage in children. 🤔

[feminist-space]

"Most of what “public health” does for Americans is taken for granted. Before the Covid pandemic, most people probably didn’t think about it at all. Yet the fact that, in most places in the United States, we can count on the water we drink to be safe, that the food we buy is not contaminated with e-coli or listeria, and that we don’t have to deal with dreaded childhood diseases that ripped through our communities only a few decades ago, is a testament to the tireless work of many, unheralded, often unknown heroes. This invisible safety net has been built up over the years, always underfunded and understaffed, always not-enough, but it’s all we’ve got.

...

By now, we’ve heard Kennedy’s views on everything from fluoride in drinking water to childhood vaccines, to threats to recreate the NIH and FDA in the image of his own quackery. Let’s be clear: Kennedy’s views are not “alternative” to orthodoxy, meant to shake up the system—they are verifiably false. They are nonsense.

Let’s take his claims on fluoride as an example. RFK Jr. wrote on X in early November: ���Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease.” Um—no. In high doses over prolonged periods of time—as with many other substances (even water and oxygen!)—exposure to fluoride can be a problem, but not in the small concentrations we see in drinking water. Lest we forget: Fluoride has been a bugaboo of the far right since the 1950s, when fluoridation was supposed to be part of a communist plot to take over America.

And since conspiracy theories know no borders, we can also look at a natural experiment up in Calgary, Canada, for further evidence. In 2011, Calgary’s’s city council banned fluoridation, and now is set to reintroduce it next year. Why? Because since fluoridation ended, cavities in children’s teeth have become more numerous and larger, often requiring treatment under general anesthesia and/or intravenous antibiotic therapy to fight infections associated with tooth decay. As one researcher at the University of Calgary has said, the decision to ban fluoridation had a clear result: It was a source of “avoidable and potentially life-threatening disease, pain, suffering, misery and expense…especially [for] very young children and their families.”

As for vaccination, Kennedy’s views are long-standing and well-known. He has suggested that “there is no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and he still clings to the long-debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. More recently, during the Covid pandemic, he created a multimillion-dollar anti-vaccine juggernaut to dissuade people from getting vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.

There is no person right now more vital to the anti-vaccine movement than RFK Jr., and his impact has been deadly. By convincing people to forgo routine pediatric vaccinations, he has endangered the lives of thousands of kids, stoked fear in families with autistic children, and in at least once instance was partially responsible for a devastating outbreak of measles. In 2019, 83 people, mostly children, died of the preventable disease in Samoa. While Kennedy has denied that his words and actions were responsible for the outbreak, he has supported anti-vaccination efforts on the islands, written to the nation’s prime minister about the dangers of vaccines, and visited Samoa to meet with anti-vaxxers and subsequently praised them for their work. As Derek Lowe, a columnist from the United States’ leading scientific journal, Science, has said: “Kennedy’s views on science and medicine are not only wrong, they are actively harmful and destructive. He has used them to make a great deal of money, and he has lied about them to interviewers and reporters whenever he finds it convenient.”

...

RFK Jr. is the poster boy for the new Trump administration, a rich man who never has had to worry about a thing in his life, putting the lives of ordinary Americans in jeopardy because he thinks he knows better than scientists. In fact, the man who thought it was a good idea to stage a hit-and-run with a dead baby bear and a bicycle in Central Park has shown a lack of judgment across the board for a long while. But he is part of an emerging kakistocracy-in-waiting that will be run by plutocrats and zealots. Our public health system in America is fragile and shouldn’t be a plaything. Once he’s done with his games, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men may not be able to put our public health infrastructure back together again. The damage may be lasting and profound.

But we are not powerless. So much of public health happens locally—and we can protect this precious national resource by speaking up and speaking out, at our city or town council meetings, calling and writing our state representatives, our mayors and our governors. This is going to be necessary work. As my Yale colleague Timothy Snyder has said: “Defend institutions.… Institutions do not protect themselves. So choose an institution you care about and take its side.” This may be your local public health department or Planned Parenthood clinic, a mental health clinic or needle exchange program, or services for LGBTQ+ or immigrant populations in your neighborhood.

These are all part of what makes public health happen day in and day out in our communities. Deprive RFK Jr. and Donald Trump of their power; take it away from them with focus and tenacity. Chip away at their campaign to destroy public health in America. These kinds of small acts will add up and will make a difference. If these men are the disease, let us be the cure."

[emotionaloof]

please share your pd dental headcanons i am so very curious

Goddamn tumblr deleted my answer before i could post it but alas lets do this again

Vyncent? Never brushed his teeth in his life. At most he used herbal potions on fauna for some healing for his mouth but never did anything specifically for teeth. When he came to Prime, Tide had to show him what a toothbrush is. He really was not on board with going to the dentist, he got so spooked by stuff he almost broke the dental unit. Drills especially spooked him, even thought none were used on him, just the toothbrush. Tide had to hold his hand for the entire visit. But despite that hes got no cavities - turns out elf teeth are protected from decay for some reason, so except from few small cracks in enamel and blemishes theres nothing wrong with them. So they put some fluoride paste on them to remineralize just in case but that made his eyes glow for some reason. For that reason Vyncent calls the dentist evil wizard. He also calls them that because he heard they take "wisdom teeth" and he can’t lose anymore wisdom.

Also, as you probably can see from my drawings - i love to hc that Vyncent has a diastema aka a tooth gap. He has it naturally - his labial frenulum penetrates gingival papila, whivh means the attachment of frenulum of the top lip is attached to a gum and overgrows creating the tooth gap.

William was braces kid - he used to have a removable one as a child and as a teen he had to wear proper braces. He would get different colored ligatures on them - moslty black and blue but for christmas he would always get red and green to feel festive. He actually got his braces removed like a week before he died and he lost his retainer when the Prime Defenders base got blown up so hes just hoping his teeth are okay.

He also brushes his teeth regularly - twice a day, unless shit hits the fan and he doesn’t have the time. He only stopped when he learned that he was rotting from the inside and decide that it doesn’t matter then. He resumed it though when he got heart transplant. After the finale hes still brushing his teeth but this time its more of a "what if... Vyncent realizes he likes me and we kiss... and my breath stinks????" overthinking thing. He doesn’t floss though. He tries to lie to his dentist about it but he fails everytime.

Dakota... oh boy. Let’s be honest, his teeth were the least of his problems for most of his life, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t crying for help. I hc that he used to go the childrens dentist regurarly when his parents were alive, but after their death he went there maybe once or twice and later focused on other stuff. He stopped brushing teeth at some point and its a miracle they are doing as good as their are. Once Tide learned about that, he immidiatelly booked appointment with W.A.T.C.H.'s dentist (that's my oc, a dentist who specializes in superhero and alien dentistry) and forced Dakota to go. While Dakota wasn’t opposed to it (unlike Vyncent who really didn’t want to go) he has... quirks that made treating him harder. Although for a dentist that treats the supernatural those quirks were basically piece of cake (like imagine treating a hero whos got acid spit or smth).

One - Dakota hates the sounds of drills and the unit. Often it overloads him so he either has to take breaks or wear headphones to mute it.

Two - i like to hc that Dakota is a menace to every doctor. Aka, like with his glasses he doesn't wear - he gets told that he grinds his teeth so hard that hes going to grind to dust and he still doesnt wear the night guard. His mandibular joint is crying. He would go to the dentist like "Hey doc, my jaw can make this funny sound!" *Both mandibular joints crack loudly* "pretty cool huh!" (writing that made my dental heart cry). In the end the W.A.T.C.H dentist makes him wear a nightguard after promising that hell get a sticker for every month he does. This works. It works too well because Dakota manages to bite through like 4 nightguards in a month. At some point the dentist makes a special mold and teaches him and Tide how to make them so that they wont have to visit every week for a new one. When Dakota leaves for 10 months he actually keeps his last night guard and tries to keep it as long as possible - sadly it breaks after a bad nightmare. But he gets a new one when they visit the W.A.T.C.H headquaters for the heart transplant, so he keeps in touch when he needs new one.

Three, Dakota has a biting problem. Which means he bites stuff out of instict when its put in his mouth. And he bites hardddddd. Thankfully the dentist clocked that quickily and always puts something silicone before their own fingers. When Dakota instanly bites they go "hey! What did we agreed to not do, sharkboy?" "I wont bite the tools..." "yes, now open up and let's see what needs to be done.".

Four, Dakotas teeth are in bad state. Like not brushing them, not visiting the dentist and constanty grinding sadly ended with him losing at least two first molars and a premolar (i draw him without one like that). Thankfully they managed to rebuild his other teeth so they aren’t in such poor state - they even thought about proper crowns but since Dakota is a minor (its better not to put pernament crowns on minors due to changes of the gums around them) and he keeps fighting (which means easily getting his teeth damaged) and grinding teeth, they’ve decided to give him only temporary restorations with composite. It works because even if it falls off its not too expensive to replaceand it takes like a one visit.

Because he had to have a lot of stuff done - they’ve treated most of his bigger problems under geneal anaesthesia (something that we actually do with children) so he basically woke up with like 3 teeth missing and like 7 new fillings. He was also very loopy after it and that spooked Vyncent - he was very worried that the evil wizard did something to Dakota but thankfully William and Tide explained to him that it had to be done and that Dakota is very good and brave for doing that.

I think thats it for main Prime Defenders. I also have a small headcanon that Ashe went to a dentist like couple of times in his life and has invisalign where the orthodonstit would send him couple new appliences every few months so he doesn’t have to come to have braces.

I also hc that Lightspeed is afraid of the dentist and Dakota offers to hold her hand and distract her when she does visit. He does very well at that. He once sat there and was liek like "im great at this assist thing, maybe i should get into dentistry" and both the dentist and lighspeed said "we love you dakota, but god please dont".

Theres probanly more that i dont remember so maybe ill add them at some point.

[creature-wizard]

What's up with the Satanic Panic, in a nutshell.

Around the 1970's, conservative Evangelicals began weaponizing a number of conspiracy theories against anyone who wasn't a conservative Evangelical. These conspiracy theories were essentially repackaged witch hysteria (IE, the conspiracies pushed by early modern witch hunters) and antisemitism (especially blood libel).

The core conspiracy theory was that a global satanic cult was working behind the scenes to manipulate politics and lead people away from Jesus. The exact practices of the cult depended on who you asked, but common allegations were practicing human sacrifice (including plenty of child sacrifice), drinking human blood, engaging in sex slavery, producing CSE and snuff films, doing drugs, and having orgies.

Numerous people stepped forward claiming to have been either former cult members, or cult survivors. Pretty much all of their accounts are full of blatant absurdities, and anytime someone was actually investigated, pretty much all of their claims fell apart. For example, Mike Warnke, one of the earliest self-proclaimed ex-satanists, was found to have made up his entire story. One woman, Lauren Stratford, was not only revealed to be a fraud, but afterward claimed she was a Holocaust survivor to collect benefits.

Some examples of claims made by people who claimed to be ex-members/survivors include:

Neopaganism was created by the global satanic cult, and Aleister Crowley was their main agent in this.

All neopaganism and modern witchcraft is a slippery slope to human sacrifice and "hardcore satanism."

All media that depicts magic or the supernatural in any way is part of the satanic agenda. Yes, literally all of it. Yes, even that.

Homosexuality is part of the global satanic agenda.

Rock and heavy metal music are part of the global satanic agenda.

Fluoride, artificial sweeteners, and various food additives are actually mind control drugs.

Electromagnetic waves are used to control people's thoughts.

Marxism was created by the global satanic agenda.

If you know anything about QAnon conspiracy theories, you might notice that some of these look awfully familiar. This is because QAnon was another manifestation of Satanic Panic. They updated "electromagnetic waves" to 5G, and largely replaced homosexuality with transgender, but it's the same thing.

The conspiracy theory about cultists creating mind controlled slaves by inducing dissociative identity disorder through torture (all that Project Monarch stuff) is purely a product of the Satanic Panic. People's supposed "memories" of this abuse were generally produced via recovered memory therapy, which is now known to be more effective at implanting memories rather than recovering them. No serious investigations ever produced any evidence of the supposedly widespread and incredibly elaborate torture of tens of thousands of children.

Now, there have been actual isolated cases of what might be considered satanic ritual abuse. But they do not constitute evidence of a global satanic conspiracy. Rather, they constitute evidence that the perpetrators were inspired by the conspiracy theory.

Additionally, they had a very pseudoscientific view of DID, and the horrible practices allegedly used to induce it and create mind controlled alters were pure pseudoscience, as were the alleged symptoms that someone might be a victim of satanic ritual abuse and just didn't remember it. Everything from autism to having conflicted feelings about your abuser to liking BDSM could be construed as a sign that you had been ritually abused. With a bunch of therapists fully convinced that thousands of people had been ritually abused and armed with hypnotic techniques that allowed them to implant memories of abuse, you can see where things could turn messy in a hurry.

Those who claimed to be former satanists/SRA victims were extremely clear in their assertions that this global satanic conspiracy really did exist, and that the only way to escape and stay safe from it was to accept Jesus. Tales of demonic attacks that could only be stopped by the power of Jesus were common, as were other claims of grandiose supernatural power.

In short, the Satanic Panic was - and still is - a means of demonizing anyone who isn't a fundagelical Christofascist, and scaring anyone who already is, into remaining such. Many of the conspiracy theories have made their way into supposedly progressive circles, so you'll occasionally come across the Project Monarch stuff in DID communities, or see pro-LGBTQ people subscribing to conspiracy theories about the wealthy elite drinking blood or adrenochrome.

But make no mistake, there is no "grain of truth" to these allegations of a global satanic conspiracy. There was no "time before all of this was corrupted by evil agendas." It was all created by people with with hateful agendas, and continues to be perpetuated by people with hateful agendas. And that's all, folks.

[nothingiswrongwithyourarmrests]

Hey, just wondering if there are any effective fluoride alternatives for remineralizing teeth. I just saw a comment on a post mention a fluoride allergy and I just realized I don't know if there are any safe and effective alternatives. Please let us know!

Nothing that is as good as fluoride.

I'm not sure how someone with a fluoride allergy would stay alive as you also need it for bone health. But I'm no allergologist or expert in rare diseases, so I'll leave that to my colleagues.

The most likely thing to be allergic to in toothpaste is aromas/flavourings. The next likliest thing is the surfactant, SLS is the most common surfactant in many soaps and some people get reactions to that. If you suspect that you have some sort of allergy or sensitivity please get it investigated and figure out what exactly you are allergic to. Since some "alternative medicine" loves to claim that fluoride causes any and all health problems with zero evidence I am extremely sceptical of all claims about not being able to have it. Some "healing practicioners" really just make stuff up and drive people into harming themselves and their children.

The only other thing that has some evidence is hydroxylapatite toothpaste. It's the same stuff that is in saliva and what our teeth are made of, and it can help remineralise your teeth, but not with the speed boost that fluoride gives. Better than no active ingredient but not as good as the ads claim. The largest producer of that toothpaste loves to imply it's as good, but the cited studies looked at stain removal and not remineralisation and if you don't actually look them up to read them you could fall for that easily.

If you really can't have fluoride you should not have sugary snacks or drinks between meals and you should brush after every meal.

[mariacallous]

TEL AVIV — Ilana Decker, who moved from Israel to New York three years ago, says she doesn’t agree often with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Arguing, as he does, that the government should not make health mandates, she said, makes her “sound like an anti-vaxxer, which I’m not.”

But there is one issue, she said, where she and Kennedy do line up: The man whom Donald Trump has picked as the next secretary of health and human services has publicly floated ending the decades-long policy of encouraging cities to inject fluoride into the American water supply.

Decker supports the change — and she’s speaking from personal experience: Her former home, Israel, stopped fluoridating its water a decade ago.

“I hate to align with RFK Jr. in any way, shape, or form, but I really do agree that it should not be in the water,” she said. Citing concerns about the risk to children, she even switched her 4-year-old to fluoride-free toothpaste, though she didn’t rule out its use fully.

“I have a deep distrust in the government taking away individual health choices ‘for our own good,’” Decker said. “I can use toothpaste with fluoride, but I can’t decide to not drink the water coming out of my faucet.”

The nomination of Kennedy, an anti-vaccine activist and harsh critic of government health agencies, has cast a spotlight on debates over the role the government should play in public health — and over the degree to which mounting distrust in science should guide policy-making.

Fluoridation offers a case study in those debates. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fluoridation in water has been shown to reduce cavities in children and adults by about 25% over a lifetime, with the organization dubbing it “one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.”

Critics of fluoridation point to studies showing that very high levels of the mineral — beyond what is normally present in fluoridated water — are associated with developmental problems in children; they also cite an array of conspiracy theories, including that the government is seeking to control citizens through fluoride use.

Kennedy has called fluoride “an industrial waste” and “dangerous neurotoxin” and said that he would seek to end fluoridation on “day one” after taking office. (Water is managed locally, so the federal government can only advise and incentivize changes.) As with vaccines, he has said the use of fluoride should be up to individuals, not the government.

“I think fluoride is on its way out,” he said on NBC News shortly after Trump’s election last month. “I think the faster that it goes out, the better.”

Those same debates lay at the root of the decision in 2013 by Israel’s health minister to end water fluoridation. Now, Israel’s policy change could act as a case study for how defluoridation could affect Americans. And the discourse is ongoing, with Israeli public health experts and some parents agitating for fluoride to be reinserted in the water — citing worsening dental outcomes for children — at the very moment when the United States may move in the opposite direction.

“The success of water fluoridation serves as a beacon for public health in general, and by extension, opposition to it should serve as a warning,” said Shlomo Zusman, who served as Israel’s chief dental officer for over two decades and was a vocal critic of the 2014 policy change.

He said modern water purification methods mean that fluoridation is far from the only way the modern water supply is altered. In addition, he noted that because 75% of Israel’s potable water is desalinated, it has no natural fluoride levels at all.

“The idea that water without added fluoride is ‘natural,’ as if it comes straight from a spring, is mistaken – there’s no such thing, it’s all manipulated,” he said. Referring to a story in the Bible, he added, “The days of Rachel pumping water from the well are long gone.”

Israel began mandating fluoridation in nearly all municipalities decades ago, following the first local American fluoridation efforts. An Israeli Health Ministry webpage calls fluoridation “the most efficient, safest, simplest, cheapest, and most equal measure, by a significant margin, among all methods for preventing dental diseases in the general public.”

But in 2013, the health minister, Yael German, pledged to stop requiring fluoridation the following year, citing unnamed doctors who she said had personally told her that fluoridation presents risks to pregnant women, people with thyroid problems and the elderly. Like Kennedy and his followers, she also cited the importance of individual choice.

“All things considered, and balancing all the interests, I feel that continued massive fluoridation of 100% of the water was an incorrect act,” German wrote to an association of pediatricians that was one of several groups to publicly oppose her plan. “And many even believe it infringes on fundamental rights and freedom of choice.”

The government that succeeded German’s term in office pledged to reintroduce fluoride — prompting legal action from German — but it has not been mandated again in Israel.

Since discontinuing fluoride in tap water, Israeli dentists have observed a significant rise in children’s cavities and have urged its reinstatement, even as some parents remain firmly against the idea.

A study published in September found a significant increase in dental restorations and crowns among Israeli children ages 3 to 5, attributing the rise to fluoride’s absence. The researchers, from the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, concluded that the results provided “further proof of the need to restore community water fluoridation in Israel.”

Another study, published in January 2022, analyzed six years of data from dental clinics affiliated with a national Israeli healthcare network, showing that children ages 3 to 12 required nearly double the number of restorative treatments compared to before fluoridation ended. Researchers emphasized that even Israel’s expansion of free dental care for all children failed to offset the worsening dental health.

With fluoridation the subject of widespread misinformation as well as ongoing research, Israel is not the only place to adjust its approach over time. Juneau, Alaska, saw pediatric dental health worsen after eliminating fluoride in 2007, according to a study that examined the cost and frequency of dental treatment for poor children. So did the Canadian city of Calgary, which recorded higher rates of cavity-related treatments under general anesthesia among children after it stopped adding fluoride to its water in 2011. Calgary has now decided to resume fluoridation. But dozens of municipalities across the United States have moved away from fluoride use in recent years, including some whose voters made the choice on Election Day last month.

Most of Europe, meanwhile, has either dropped fluoridation or never introduced it in drinking water. Many of those countries offer fluoridated salt and milk, mitigating the potential costs of not including the mineral in water.

Not everyone in Israel is convinced that reintroducing fluoride is a good idea. In one Israeli mothers’ group on Facebook, several women posited that the country’s cavity epidemic has less to do with the absence of fluoride in water and more to do with poor hygiene habits and children’s consumption of sweets and sugary snacks.

“Kids subsisting on white bread and chocolate spread isn’t helping,” wrote one, naming a popular Israeli snack.

Another, who identified herself as a teacher with 25 years of experience, agreed that there has been a significant decline in nutrition.

“I can say with 100% certainty that children’s diets have deteriorated immensely and it just so happens to coincide with the removal of fluoride,” she said.

Several cited a recent study from the National Institutes of Health’s National Toxicology Program that suggests that high levels of fluoride exposure may be linked to lower IQ in children. The report does not question the dental health benefits of fluoride.

The program reviewed more than 500 studies over nearly a decade and concluded with “moderate confidence” that fluoride exposure at concentrations above 1.5 parts per million is associated with reduced cognitive development in children. But the study, which drew criticism from the American Academy of Pediatrics, also noted that that number was far above the recommended fluoride level in U.S. drinking water of 0.7 parts per million.

Another study from May of this year found that prenatal exposure to fluoride was linked to behavioral problems, with children of mothers in areas with higher fluoride concentrations showing symptoms of autism, anxiety and other disorders by age 3, though the authors stopped short of establishing causation.

Zusman dismissed many of the concerns about health risks as a fad.

“There was a time when they claimed fluoridation caused hip fractures, then cancer, and later stunted growth in boys” caused by osteosarcoma, he said. “Now the fashion is ADHD and IQ, so they blame fluoridation on that.”

He said that just like parents who oppose fluoridation, the issue is personal to him, too.

“Believe me, if there were serious, professional studies showing harm, I’d be the first to say, stop fluoridating the water,” he said. “I have eight grandchildren to think of.”

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

According to my mother, the 1950s were a rotten time for everyone but conservative white well-off males. She could not get scholarships for college unless she would become a teacher, despite being whip smart and wanting to be a chemical engineer. She could not serve on a jury. She could not have a bank account in her name. She could not decide how many children she would have. She could not fall in love with a black man and marry him but if she got pregnant by a white rapist would have to marry him. No one could even speak about her falling in love with a woman. If she married a man whose income didn’t allow her to stay at home, it caused shame. If she chose to work and use the brain God gave her, it was a greater shame as she was neglecting the children she had no choice but to bear.

It was a cruel time of black listing, lynchings, anti-semitism, nuclear saber rattling, wars, wasted human potential, and rigid social norms. We had no sense of caring for the environment, each other, or corporate responsibility. It was a time of rampant tobacco use, fear of fluoride as a communist plot, and cars that were unsafe at any speed. Lives were ruined by vague accusations and fear was pervasive.

At least vaccines were embraced because the horror of polio, smallpox, and diphtheria was still in their memories.

This was not “great.” This was not Christian. Anything else is a lying false nostalgia.

We seem, in two months, to be trying to erase 60 years of progress to return to those dark days.

Days that only one group of people would benefit from.

A group that most readers of this won’t belong to.

We can’t go back.

We won’t go back.

We have seen and tasted freedom and that knowledge cannot be taken from us.

(Carole Maddux)

[darkmaga-returns]

As undeniable evidence mounts that fluoride harms children’s brains, a historic ruling by a federal judge—and a report the government tried desperately to bury—may finally end the practice of adding this toxin to America’s drinking water.

For over two decades, scientists have warned about the harmful effects of fluoride exposure on the developing brain. Since 63% of the U.S. has fluoride in its drinking water, this is a critical issue affecting millions of Americans! Unfortunately, government agencies like CDC—along with the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics—dismissed concerns and stubbornly continued to champion water fluoridation.

This all changed last month with a pivotal court ruling. But, first, some background: In 2016, the NIH’s National Toxicology Program (NTP) was charged with analyzing the large volume of studies on fluoride’s neurotoxicity. Shortly after, an advocacy group sued the EPA in a bid to force it to remove fluoride from drinking water. Knowing that a report from NTP was forthcoming, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen stayed the case until the report’s release. Little did he know how long he would have to wait.

Not only did it take NTP six years to complete the report, but when it was ready to publish in May 2022, officials at CDC and HHS betrayed their duty to the American people by trying to suppress the report! Ultimately, it took another year and a court order from Judge Chen for the report to be released. As HighWire viewers may have suspected, the report did not bode well for water fluoridation.

This September, with the NTP report finally in hand, Judge Chen made his historic ruling: “[T]he Court finds that fluoridation of water at 0.7 milligrams per liter (‘mg/L’) – the level presently considered ‘optimal’ in the United States – poses an unreasonable risk of reduced IQ in children.” He concluded:

[T]here is substantial and scientifically credible evidence establishing that fluoride poses a risk to human health; it is associated with a reduction in the IQ of children and is hazardous at dosages that are far too close to fluoride levels in the drinking water of the United States. And this risk is unreasonable under Amended TSCA.

The court then ordered the EPA to “to engage with a regulatory response,” but the even better news is that many townships aren’t waiting to protect their kids from this toxic exposure. Abilene (TX), Hillsboro (OR), Lebanon (OR), Yorktown (NY), and Winter Haven (FL) have already decided to end, or forego starting, fluoridation in the wake of the Court’s ruling, and many other communities, including Lyndon (WA), Monroe (WI), Naples (FL) and Tampa Bay (FL), are considering the same. Visit the Fluoride Action Network for materials you can use to demand action in your city.

Congratulations to the legal team, with a special kudos to current Siri & Glimstad partner Michael Connett who has focused on fighting the fluoride issue, and the plaintiffs, for this landmark win that will have a lasting impact on the health of all American children! For more details, watch The HighWire interview with Connett.

[myscottsdale]

Everything You Need to Know About Fluoride Treatment for Healthy Teeth

Fluoride is the most effective agent available to help prevent tooth decay. It is a mineral that is naturally present in varying amounts in almost all foods and water supplies.

Topical fluoride strengthens the teeth once they have erupted by seeping into the outer surface of the tooth enamel, making the teeth more resistant to decay. We gain topical fluoride by using fluoride containing dental products such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, and gels. Dr. Poulos and My Scottsdale Dentist recommends that children have a professional application of fluoride twice a year during dental check-ups.

For healthier, stronger teeth, it's essential to include fluoride in your daily oral care routine. Fluoride plays a vital role in protecting your enamel and reducing the risk of cavities, and for many people, it's naturally added to public water supplies. Fluoride toothpaste is another common source of fluoride in your everyday hygiene. However, there are times when a dentist may recommend additional fluoride treatments to boost the protection and strength of your teeth.

We'll dive into what fluoride treatments are, why they're important, how they work, and the benefits they provide. Plus, we'll address some common concerns and questions people have about fluoride.

What Is Fluoride Treatment?

Fluoride treatment is a dental procedure where a dentist or hygienist applies a high concentration of fluoride to the teeth to improve their health and prevent cavities. It helps fortify tooth enamel, making your teeth more resistant to decay. Fluoride treatments can take the form of gels, foams, or varnishes that are applied directly to the teeth during a routine dental visit.

Fluoride treatments are often recommended for individuals who are at higher risk for dental cavities, such as those with dry mouth, poor oral hygiene, or a history of frequent tooth decay.

How Long Does Fluoride Treatment Last?

The effects of fluoride treatment typically last for several months, depending on the method used. For example, fluoride varnish—which is commonly applied during dental visits—can remain on the teeth for about 4 to 6 hours. During this time, the fluoride gets absorbed into the enamel, providing long-lasting protection.

Dentists usually recommend that fluoride treatments be repeated every 3 to 6 months to maintain the effectiveness, especially for individuals who have a higher risk of cavities.

The Benefits of Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride has numerous advantages when it comes to maintaining strong, healthy teeth. Here are some of the key benefits:

1. Helps Prevent Cavities and Tooth Decay

Fluoride treatment helps reduce the risk of cavities by reinforcing tooth enamel and preventing demineralization—the process that causes your enamel to break down. By making enamel stronger and more resistant to decay, fluoride treatment can reduce the chances of cavities forming.

2. Protects Tooth Enamel

Enamel is the outer protective layer of your teeth, and once it’s damaged, it doesn't grow back. Fluoride treatment helps protect and strengthen enamel, ensuring your teeth remain resilient against acids and bacteria in the mouth.

3. Reverses Early Stages of Tooth Decay

If you've noticed early signs of tooth decay (like small white spots on the enamel), fluoride treatments can help remineralize the enamel and even reverse early cavities, preventing them from becoming full-blown cavities that need fillings.

4. Reduces Acidity in the Mouth

Fluoride reduces the amount of acid in the mouth, which is produced by bacteria feeding on sugars. This is crucial because acidic environments can erode tooth enamel, leading to cavities and tooth decay.

5. Helps Mineralize Teeth

When fluoride is absorbed into the enamel, it helps restore vital minerals, such as calcium and phosphate, to the tooth surface. This remineralization process helps keep your teeth strong and resistant to future damage.

Are Fluoride Treatments Safe?

Yes, fluoride treatments are generally safe for most people. They’re commonly recommended by dental professionals and have been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of cavities. However, as with any dental procedure, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Allergic Reactions: Though rare, some individuals may have a mild allergic reaction to fluoride. If this occurs, it’s essential to let your dentist know immediately.

Fluorosis: One potential concern, especially for young children, is dental fluorosis, a condition caused by excessive fluoride intake during tooth development. This can result in white spots or streaks on the teeth. To prevent this, ensure children under the age of 6 don't swallow toothpaste containing fluoride and avoid fluoride supplements unless recommended by a dentist.

Fluoride is safe and beneficial when used in the proper amounts. Dentists carefully monitor fluoride treatment amounts to ensure there is no risk of overdose or side effects.

What Is Fluoride and How Does It Work?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water, soil, and some foods. It works by strengthening tooth enamel and making it more resistant to the acids that can lead to cavities. Fluoride can help reverse early tooth decay by stimulating the remineralization process—replacing lost minerals in the enamel.

Demineralization vs. Remineralization

Tooth enamel is constantly undergoing two processes: demineralization and remineralization. Demineralization occurs when acids produced by bacteria in the mouth attack enamel, causing it to lose minerals. Remineralization happens when minerals like fluoride, calcium, and phosphate are redeposited into the enamel, helping to repair and strengthen it. Fluoride plays a critical role in promoting remineralization and stopping the cycle of damage that leads to tooth decay.

Types of Fluoride Used in Dentistry

Many foods and water contain fluoride. You can also purchase fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. You can buy low-strength fluoride mouthwash over the counter. Stronger concentrations in liquid or tablet form need a healthcare provider’s prescription.

Varnish, which they’ll paint directly on your teeth.

Gel, which they’ll either paint on your teeth or dispense in a custom tray.

Foam, which they’ll dispense into a custom tray, then place over your teeth.

At what age is fluoride intake most important?

Infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years need an appropriate amount of fluoride. Developing teeth benefit from fluoride just as much as teeth that have already erupted (grown in).

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends watching the intake of too much fluoride in infants and young children. The ADA specifically recommends avoiding reconstituted liquid formulas, such as liquid concentrate or powdered baby formulas that require mixing with fluoridated water.

Instead, the ADA recommends breast milk (chest milk), ready-to-feed formula or prepared formula mixed with fluoride-free water. These recommendations are to guard against enamel fluorosis — faint white streaks that can appear on tooth enamel during a child’s developmental years, even before the teeth erupt through the gums.

For young children, the ADA also recommends:

Using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste at each brushing.

Spitting out rather than swallowing the toothpaste.

Not allowing children under age 6 to use fluoride mouth rinses unless recommended by a dentist or other healthcare provider.

Not giving fluoride-containing dietary supplements to children under 6 months of age.

Do Adults Benefit from Fluoride?

Absolutely! While fluoride is often associated with children, adults can also benefit from fluoride treatments, especially if they face oral health challenges like:

Dry Mouth (Xerostomia): A common condition caused by certain medications or health issues that leads to reduced saliva production, making the teeth more vulnerable to decay.

A History of Tooth Decay: If you have frequent cavities, fluoride treatments can offer extra protection for your teeth.

Gum Disease or Braces: These can expose more of your teeth and make them more prone to decay, so fluoride can help prevent cavities in these vulnerable areas.

What are the benefits of fluoride?

Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces your risk of cavities by approximately 25%.

Remineralizes your tooth enamel.

Reverses early tooth decay.

Slows down the process of demineralization.

Prevents the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.

Gone are the days of feeling self-conscious about gaps in your smile or worrying about adjacent teeth becoming unstable. With the innovative dental treatment offered by My Scottsdale Dentist, you can say goodbye to these concerns. This comprehensive approach not only restores function but also focuses on long-term oral health benefits. By understanding the importance of dental implants in maintaining a stable bite and supporting overall oral health, you’re investing in a brighter future filled with confident smiles and worry-free eating experiences. Experience the transformation firsthand and witness how this remarkable solution can truly change lives for the better.

Is fluoride toxic?

When used properly, fluoride is safe and effective. But it can be hazardous at high doses. 

Avoid flavored toothpaste. (Children are more likely to swallow flavored toothpaste.)

Use only a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste on your child’s toothbrush.

Be cautious about using fluoridated toothpaste in children under age 6. (Children under 6 years of age are more likely to swallow toothpaste instead of spitting it out.)

It’s very difficult to reach dangerous fluoride levels due to the low levels of fluoride in over-the-counter products. But if you have concerns, talk to your dentist, pediatrician or primary care provider (PCP).

How Often Should You Have Fluoride Treatments?

The frequency of fluoride treatments depends on your personal oral health needs. Generally, people with a higher risk of cavities may need fluoride treatments every 3 to 6 months. If you're someone who is not prone to decay and maintains good oral hygiene, treatments once a year might suffice.

Are there risks or side effects of fluoride?

The most common side effect of fluoride is fluorosis (fluoride-induced tooth discoloration). People with fluorosis develop spots on their teeth that can range from light white to dark brown. These spots typically occur during tooth development, usually in children under the age of 6.

Fluorosis most often results from consuming naturally occurring fluoride, like that found in well water. If you have well water, testing a sample can help determine how much fluoride is in your water.

You can’t brush fluorosis away, but a dentist might be able to use special bleaching methods to address the issue. If professional whitening doesn’t work, you can opt for dental bonding or porcelain veneers.

Conclusion

Fluoride treatments are a powerful tool for maintaining optimal dental health. They help protect enamel, prevent cavities, and even reverse early stages of decay. While fluoride is generally safe and beneficial, it’s important to follow your dentist’s advice about how much fluoride you need, particularly for children and adults with specific oral health needs.

Is fluoride good for your teeth?

Yes. When used properly, fluoride is one of the best ways to strengthen your enamel and reduce your risk of cavities. Ask your dentist for product recommendations and how often you should get fluoride treatments.

[starseedpatriot]

We know for decades the Establishment & Mega-Corps have put profit over people by introducing GMO crops, garbage food product, fluoride, vaccines, etc... into our lives, and our health has suffered greatly.

But what happened in 2006 that made the fertility rates suddenly decline as shown in this graph?

Here's a couple possible links:

In 2005/6:

- FDA approved the HPV vaccine Gardasil (initially marketed to young girls)

- Monsanto gained approved for "Roundup Ready Soy"

- EPA "reapproved" the pesticide Atrazine (endocrine disrupting effects)

- FDA approved the use of a variety of birth control products, including Plan B for over the counter purchase.

Also the "Global Recession" of the time may have had an effect, with families deciding not to have children because they couldn't afford it.

[lichlordpinkerton]

New excellent example of how important scientific literacy is and not just jumping on headlines dropped.

So after reading through this paper, there is a lot to unpack here. First, Metadata from Ground News shows that this is getting roughly even reporting across the American L/R divide. Mostly, Fluoride is being politicized as it is one of RFK Jr.'s favorite theories and he's been pushing for it to be removed from water supplies.

Here are the key takeaways you need if you don't wanna read it yourself:

This paper is a meta-analysis of 74 other studies about Fluoride levels in water supplies and subjects urine.

The meta-analysis found that in the studied areas with 2-4 mg/L of Fluoride in water. Notably, it clarifies in Key Point Findings that this holds true for both high-bias and low-bias studies.

Of these 74 studies, 52 were considered to be highly biased and 22 were considered to be low-bias. This means that about 68% of the studies were found by the OHAT risk-of-bias tool. The definition of high risk has several components as shown below, but generally it means they're less than worthless if they're making up 68% of your analysis.

The phrase "...found significant inverse associations between fluoride exposure and children’s IQ scores." Is used three times (3!!!) before the introduction of the paper.

If you can get past all of the jargon in the results that's supposed to be confusing, you can find that the significant inverse association is... 1.63 points in the high-bias studies and 1.14 points in the low-bias studies. If you dig even deeper into the appendix you see that the specific IQ test used was the Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scale of Intelligence. This uses a standard <69 to >130 scale.

So, even if IQ were a reliable way to Guage the "significant inverse association" being mentioned is at most 2%. Imagine yourself if you were 2% less intelligent. Literally nothing changes within the narrative they're even trying to frame! Of the 6 News outlets reporting on this, the 2 right wing (one of the centrist was just a verbatim repost of the Fox News study) were talking about how damning this is without mentioning any of the bias, or how a majority of the studies were conducted in regions of China with unsafely high levels of Fluoride naturally occurring in the drinking water, or how little the impact actually is even within their narrative.

All these people want is for you to be angry at the small shit so you're distracted by the real power structures. I'm not even helping really, I just spent 30 minutes researching this post while probably 5,000 people shared this on Facebook because they're concerned about their grandchildren or want it to be a double proxy for trans Healthcare.

Don't let yourself get distracted, and stay strong.

[naturallyadventured]

veronaphoto

🌀

elaine_doyle_

What reclaiming Divine Feminine Power looks like to ME; ✨ Remembering that we can BIRTH our own children free of any fear based narrative. ✨ Knowing the SACREDNESS of your sexual & kundalini energy and not giving it away to anyone unless they honour all of your power and vulnerability. ✨ Remembering you can HEAL yourself of any ailment physically, emotionally or spiritually utilising the herbs and Shamanic Medicine People of this land. ✨ Unravelling from the systems that have oppressed us including the education and medical systems. ✨ Knowing that being WOMAN is enough and by doing less the land will provide more & more abundance on your path. Kicking that lack mentality out of your psyche. ✨ Allowing the DIVINE Masculine Male to serve, honour and provide for you. ✨ Knowing that you can walk these lands FREE of any mask. ✨ Prioritising your OWN self care above anyone else’s. ✨ Shedding any relationships that do not support the RISE of the divine feminine within. ✨ Implementing solid BOUNDARIES in all areas of your life. ✨ Nourishing ourselves with organic food and fluoride free water of the most DIVINE quality. ✨ Gifting yourself as much time as possible to connect with Mother Earth, bathing in her waters, singing to the trees & drumming on the mountain tops. ✨ Opening yourself up fully to RECEIVE all the pleasure life has to offer. ✨ This is a courageous path & I honour and celebrate all the women on these lands on this path with us✨💞🌙🌸🌱 📸 @veronaphoto

[sparky-tubgoat]

To conceal harms of an apparent “well poisoning” effort, US Assistant Secretary of Health Rachel “Dick” Levine tried to prevent Americans from seeing a government report demonstrating brain-damaging, intelligence-lowering effects of fluoride — forced into public water supplies for decades without informed consent — until a court ordered the report’s release.