American Dental Association Reaffirms Infant Fluoride Warning

New York February 3, 2010 The American Dental Association (ADA) confirms that infant formula should not be mixed with "optimally" fluoridated water so as to prevent fluoride discolored teeth (fluorosis), according to a November 2009 ADA News Release posted on the internet. (1) This reaffirms a 2006 ADA e-gram (1a) and a similar Centers for Disease Control Advisory (1b).

Fluoride chemicals are added to about 70% of US public water supplies and some bottled waters ostensibly to reduce tooth decay.

"Infants who are only fed powdered and liquid concentrate formulas mixed with optimally fluoridated water (0.7 to 1.2 ppm) are likely to exceed a fluoride intake level established by the Institute of Medicine designed to reduce the risk of moderate to severe enamel fluorosis [brown stained and/or pitted teeth]," reports the ADA.

The ADA defines moderate fluorosis as "All tooth surfaces affected; marked wear on biting surfaces; brown stain may be present" and severe fluorosis as "All tooth surfaces affected; discrete or confluent pitting; brown stain present." (2) Mild fluorosis is white spotted teeth affecting about 25% to 50% of tooth surfaces.

"Enamel fluorosis can occur when developing teeth are exposed to too much fluoride"from any source," says the ADA.

"Parents should call their water companies to learn their water fluoride levels," says attorney Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. (NYSCOF) "If fluoride is added, they should demand it be stopped," Beeber advises.

Up to 48% of US school children have dental fluorosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control 4% of it moderate to severe. (3)

"Fluoride is neither a nutrient nor essential for healthy teeth and is a hidden ingredient in virtually all foods," says Beeber.

An October study in the Journal of the American Dental Association reveals that all infant formula contains some fluoride already. (4) The ADA admits, "the study did not factor an infant's consumption of baby foods and other beverages, such as juice, that may also contain fluoride." (1)

For example, one small jar of baby food made with mechanically separated chicken delivers more fluoride than a 6-month-old child should receive in an entire day, according to a Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Study. (5)

New York State Department of Health dentist J. V. Kumar published national statistics in the July 2009 JADA which show similar cavity rates regardless of water fluoride content, However, dental fluorosis rates increased along with water fluoride levels. See analysis "Fluoridation No Benefit; Definite Harm," by Kathleen M. Thiessen, Ph.D., SENES Oak Ridge, Inc., Center for Risk Analysis here:

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/Clinch_2009_No_Benefit_Definite_Harm.pdf

NYSCOF news releases in 2000 , 2004 and 2009 (6,7,8) cited many studies linking fluorosis to infant foods mixed with fluoridated water. (Also see: http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/infant ).

"However, government agencies and organized dentistry are doing a poor job of disseminating this emerging science to the tax-paying public who mostly paid for the research," says Beeber.

"People must restore the safety of their public water supplies and protect their children by joining together locally to demand that their town or city councils stop adding unnecessary fluoride chemicals into the public water supplies," says Beeber. "Parents who want fluoride for their children can easily obtain it at the drugstore," says Beeber. "But we don't recommend fluoride at all."

The USDA lists the fluoride content of some common foods here: http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=6312

Pictures of fluorosis:

http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/teeth/fluorosis/moderate-severe.html

Fluoride's adverse health effects: http://www.FluorideAction.Net/health

SOURCE: NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. (NYSCOF)

References:

1) http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/fluoride_research_study_response.pdf

1a) http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/epubs/egram/egram_061109.pdf

1b) http://www.cdc.gov/FLUORIDATION/safety/infant_formula.htm#1

2) http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/facts/fluoridation_facts.pdf

3) http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/figures/s403a1t23.gif

4) "Assessing a potential risk factor for enamel fluorosis: a

preliminary evaluation of fluoride content in infant formulas,"

Journal of the American Dental Association October 2009

5) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, September 2001, " Fluoride content of foods made with mechanically separated chicken, by Fein & Cerklewski

6) http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof/_pgg10.php3

7) http://groups.google.com/group/fluoridation-news-releases/browse_thread/thread/b627e6114c7a3ea6

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