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Fluoride can be found in the air, as particles or gas. It can be found in water, soil, and in living organisms.
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When fluoride accumulates in plants it is in their leaves. In humans it accumulates in their skeleton.
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When applied in high levels to the leaves of plants, fluoride has been shown to turn them yellow and slow their growth.
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The United States adds fluoride to most of its water supply systems, while most other developed countries do not.
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Countries with fluoridated water do not have lower rates of cavities among their residents.
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The World Health Organization has provided data that shows there is no difference in tooth decay between countries that do not fluoridate their water and countries that do.
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Studies are beginning to show that fluoride, which is an endocrine (gland system) disrupter, can have a negative effect on human blood sugar levels, thyroid gland function, pineal gland function, and even on the brain and bones.
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Too much fluoride causes dental fluorosis - tooth enamel defects - and is present in approximately 40% of the teenagers in the U.S. It occurs when the tooth-forming cells are disrupted by fluoride exposure.
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Children often accidentally swallow toothpaste when brushing their teeth, which puts them at greater exposure to fluoride.
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Although fluoride has not been proven to cause cancer, it is under investigation. People exposed to high levels of fluoride as part of their jobs have higher rates of cancer, but it is not known if this is due to the fluoride or other chemicals in their environment.
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While dentists and other health professionals often believe that fluoridated water can prevent cavities and save low income individuals money, too much fluoride can result in expensive dental treatments to repair damage to the enamel.
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Fluoride supplements can be prescribed by doctors but supplements of this type have not been FDA approved.
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Despite the fluoride added to drinking water supplies in various countries, the benefit of fluoride to teeth comes when it is applied topically, not internally. This means that it can be beneficial if it is applied to the teeth (such as with toothpaste), but not ingested.
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In the United States where fluoride is added to the drinking water, tooth decay is not lessened. In Detroit 42 % of African-American children under the age of 5 have serious tooth decay and more than 90% have some level of tooth decay. The drinking water in Detroit is fluoridated. The same applies to many other communities in the U.S. with fluoridated drinking water.
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