Is Fluoride Safe?

The dental world has always been associated with the use of fluoride in dental procedures because this active ingredient is found very effective component of any best teeth whitening package you can either have from your dentist or from the nearest drug store. Fluoride is the main ingredient of your ordinary toothpaste which is also known to strengthen the teeth to win their battle against bacteria.

Most recent studies have shown that fluoride is a toxic ingredient. Material Safety Data Sheets or the MSDS has tagged this substance as ‘toxic by ingestion, skin contact and inhalation’. However the American Dental Association stands firm for their post in this debate of fluoride suggesting its use in promoting oral health specifically in the enhancement of any teeth whitening product. 

This recommendation has again been contradicted by other professional studies regarding oral health which states that there has been no significant difference found in the degree and rate of tooth decay among children in non-fluoridated, fluoridated and partially fluoridated areas in the United States. As of 2002, about 90 percent of people in the United States have been into public water system distribution and 67 percent of that number has been receiving water that is fluoridated.

The world’s teeth whitening professionals have advocated the use of fluoride and other products with fluoride in the quests against teeth discoloration, teeth weakening and other prevalent oral problems. This is in spite of the fact that fluoride can bring in other problems like acute poisoning, osteoarthritis, bone and uterine cancer, birth defects, immune system suppression, gastrointestinal disorder, lowered IQ especially to children, skeletal fluorosis and a lot more.

Along with the question on fluoride safety in the United States, water fluoridation has also been placed on the hot seat. In the United States alone, 45 cities have already expressed their fight against the water fluoridation system and the inclusion of fluoride in the diet and any of the common teeth whitening product. On the other hand, water fluoridation has been banned in many countries like Sweden, Japan, Hungary, the Netherlands, China, Belgium, Austria, Finland, Germany, Norway and Denmark. This only means that more and more people have recognized the ill-effects of fluoride to human health.

Moreover, people should also be aware that it is not only through water systems and best teeth whitening product that fluoride can be taken in. There are other common foods that can contain fluoride including reconstituted dry food, mechanically de-boned chicken, soup, food cooked in Teflon pans, ad home-made or restaurant cooked soup.

The question of fluoride safety has long been debated upon. The daily recommended intake of fluoride is just about 0.05 mg/kg/day (milligram per kilogram of body weight per day). his set amount can be your guide in your consciousness about the ill-effects of fluoride in the body. If you think that your tooth paste can already supplement your need for the substance, then there is no use consuming fluoride-made foods and beverages like bottled water and even vitamin supplements.