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Fluoridation Fails Poor Children, New Studies Show
New York State Coalition Opposed to
Fluoridation, July 24, 2002
NEW YORK, July 24 /PRNewswire/ --
Fluoridation promises to level cavity rates between poor and non-poor, but
fails, according to two studies in the May-June "Pediatric Dentistry,"
reports the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation (NYSCOF).
Low-income pre-schoolers, from northern
Manhattan, New York City (100% fluoridated), have significantly more
cavities than pre-schoolers nationwide (62% fluoridated) and average more
tooth decay than the entire U.S. population(1). Researchers report about one
third of northern Manhattan's pre-school children studied averaged 6.39
decayed or filled tooth surfaces.
Maryland's poor 3- to 5-year-old's cavity
rates are even worse. Despite Maryland's significant fluoridation rate
(85.8%), "(t)he percentage of children with (cavities) increased by age,
from 43% for three-year-olds to 62% for four-year-olds,"(2) report Maryland
researchers.
Even avid fluoride promoters admit
fluoridation's failure:
"...children with extreme (dental) disease
often overwhelm the expected benefits (of fluoridation) and continue to
develop new cavities despite fluoridated water availability," writes
Columbia University's Burton L. Edelstein DDS who is also Director,
Children's Dental Health Project(3). Edelstein reports that (85.9%
fluoridated) Connecticut's poor, pre-school children's cavities increased
despite water fluoridation.
"American children are fluoride-overdosed,
indicated by increasing rates of dental fluorosis (white-spotted, yellow,
brown-stained or pitted teeth). Yet, cavity rates go up rather than down.
Clearly, fluoride fails to reduce poor children's tooth decay, the
population dentists cite to justify spending taxpayers' dollars for water
fluoridation," says lawyer Paul Beeber, President, NYSCOF. "'Fluoridation'
should be removed from U.S. Senate Bill S.1626 and House Bill H.R.4476,"
Beeber added.
Is Fluoride the Cure or the Cause?
Studies show high blood-lead levels,
prevalent among the poor, are linked to more cavities. (e.g.,. Lanphear/Moss
(June, 1999 JAMA)
Silicofluorides, used by over 90% of U.S.
fluoridating communities, induce children's higher blood-lead levels,
according to studies by Masters and Coplan(4).
Additionally, fluoride, itself, slightly
above the dosage dentists' recommend, causes cavities (Burt/Eklund 1999;
www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?id=5114 )
This evidence and more shows fluoridation
fails to prevent, and may actually cause, low-income children's tooth decay.
Nevertheless, spurred by organized dentistry, "posses" of citizens' groups,
armed with misinformation but good intentions, and funded by ill-informed
philanthropic organizations, are influencing unquestioning legislators to
add fluoride chemicals to many U.S. communities.
Diet, Not Fluoride, The Answer?
Lower socioeconomic groups who manifest
highest decay rates, often, are also malnourished. Lack of nutrients in the
womb grow weaker teeth(5). And sugar-rich, nutrient-poor diets foster decay
in erupted teeth.
"Poor pregnant women and their children fed
low-sugar, nutrient-dense foods will likely experience less tooth decay
along with better overall health. Fluoridation only delivers adverse
effects. Improve America's health and save money by eliminating water
fluoridation, expensive fluoridation research, promotion and
implementation," Beeber says.
References [www]:
(1)
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12064497&dopt=Abstract
(2)
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12064502&dopt=Abstract
(3)
Access to Dental Care for Head Start Enrollees:
[www2].acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb/about/init_pri/oralpaper/dental.htm
(4)
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11233755&dopt=Abstract
dartmouth.edu/?rmasters/AHABS/bp.htm#Water
(5)
Good Oral Health Begins in the Womb (ADA News Release) ada.org/public/media/newsrel/0202/nr-01.html
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