Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyNTexas
YAWN.
Long story short .... rat poison is good for you! Drink up now, trust us ... rat's may die, but they do have great teeth.
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Fluoride, the 13th most abundant element on the earth's crust, is a chemical ion of the element fluorine - fluoride has one extra electron that gives it a negative charge.
Fluoride is found naturally in soil, water, foods, and several minerals, such as fluorapatite and fluorite.
Fluoride concentration in seawater averages 1.3 ppm (parts per million), while in fresh water supplies the natural range is typically between 0.01 to 0.3 ppm.
Why is fluoride added to drinking water?
Water authorities add fluoride to tap-water because they say it reduces the prevalence of tooth decay in the local population.
In the early 1930s, scientists found that people who were brought up in areas with naturally fluoridated water had up to two-thirds fewer cavities compared to those who lived in areas where the water was not fluoridated.
Several studies since then have repeatedly shown that when fluoride is added to people's drinking water in areas where levels are low, tooth decay decreases.
most of the countries in Europe which do not have water fluoridation , they use "salt fluoridation, much like we used salt iodination.
What does fluoride do?
Fluoride is said to protect the teeth in two ways:◾Protection from demineralization - when bacteria in the mouth combine with sugars they produce acid. This acid can erode tooth enamel and damage our teeth. Fluoride can protect teeth from demineralization that is caused by the acid.
◾Remineralization - if there is already some damage to teeth caused by acid, fluoride accumulates in the demineralized areas and begins strengthening the enamel, a process called remineralization.
Fluoride is extremely useful in preventing cavities and making teeth stronger. However, it is much less effective if a cavity has already formed.
According to the National Health Service, fluoride disrupts the process of tooth decay by:◾altering the structure of the developing enamel so that it is more resistant to acid attack. These structural changes occur as a child's enamel develops (before he/she is seven years old).
◾providing an environment where better quality enamel is formed, which is much more resistant to acid attack
◾reducing the bacteria's (bacteria in plaque) ability to produce acid, a major cause of tooth decay
Who needs fluoride?
Virtually all public health authorities and medical associations worldwide recommend that children and adults receive a minimum (and maximum) level of fluoride. Children need fluoride to protect their permanent teeth as they are being formed. Adults also need fluoride to protect their teeth from decay.
Several people, especially those at higher risk of tooth decay, benefit from fluoride treatment. This includes individuals who have:◾Snacking habits
◾Poor dental hygiene
◾No (or little) access to a dentist
◾Diets that are high in sugars/carbohydrates
◾Bridges, crowns, braces, and other restoration procedures
◾A history of tooth decay (cavities)
Some natural water has too much fluoride
According to WHO, millions of people around the world are exposed to excessively high levels of fluoride through drinking water that is contaminated from
natural geological sources.
High concentrations of fluoride occur in several parts of the world, including southern Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean and Africa. There is an area that extends from Turkey and stretches all the way to China (via Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, India and northern Thailand) where water fluoride levels are high.
In some arid parts of Africa where fluoride levels in water are high, there are no alternative sources of water.
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Fluoride
