You are told by toothpaste companies and by your dentist that fluoride is good for our teeth, but is it good that you are drinking it in your tap water? One thing you should keep in mind before you buy toothpaste that has fluoride or before you start drinking from the tap is that fluoride was never tested for safety before it was approved. The government and the FDA may tell us it is safe, but are there serious risks involved with drinking tap water in the long run?

In 1973, Richard Foulkes, MD, was given the job of researching water fluoridation because British Columbia was considering mandatory fluoridation. Based on his initial findings, he recommended that mandatory fluoridation begin in Canada. He learned, however, that his findings were altered and falsified by his own research team. In 1992, after intense additional research and working hard to uncover the truth, he told the astonished public that fluoride was not safe at all. Despite his findings, why is fluoridation allowed in the waters of the United States and some other countries? Our government will claim that it is beneficial for our teeth to help prevent cavities, but researches and studies have found that this is simply not true. They have found that there are no positive effects.

Scientists not associated with dental trade organizations conducted an independent research study and found some very shocking results. These studies were conducted on animals, so although your anatomy obviously differs from that of a rat or any other animal, you can get a general idea what fluoride can do to your system. A particular neurotoxicologist found that fluoride actually built up inside the brains of animals when they are exposed to moderate levels. The result? Brain damage and the animals' behavioral patterns were affected in a negative way. Pregnant animals were also given low doses of fluoride, and their offspring showed effects similar to hyperactivity. ADD anyone? Fluoride use also led to lesions in the brains of rats, which were similar to Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Fluoride can cause disorders of all kinds. In fact, studies on human children have been found to have lower IQs when exposed to fluoride. It has been known to change bone structure and can actually increase the risk of hip fractures. It can impair the immune system, cause osteoarthritis, cause disfigurement of children's teeth, suppress thyroid function, inhibit key enzymes, and encourage skeletal fluorosis, which is severe pain and damage to bones and joints. It has even been linked to cancer and uterine cancer deaths.