Not true

Freedom, forgive me if I just don't want to take the time to do the research at this point. I hear you. I'm just asking you to consider that taking fluoride away will cause an epidemic in cavities. Just like stopping the smallpox vaccine will cause a smallpox epidemic. Cost vs. Benefit
But remember I don't believe in forced medication any more than you do.

My point is that awareness and action are decreasing at an alarming rate. I have an upscale practice, and what I am seeing is that the majority of middle class families do not bring their children in for routine care anymore. Also, dental care is becoming something that the average American can no longer afford, unless they have been diligent, and most have not been. Also, the average child's diet is atrocious, consisting largely of junk and sugary food. It's a preventable, terrible problem, and I am watching it develop. It makes me so sad because I know that with fluoride and sealants and good diet and care we can eliminate 99% of dental disease. I foresee us going back to the time when the great majority of Americans over 40 had no teeth.

No doubt. Dental maintenance is essential and awareness and action on this has made a big difference imo.

A significant number of people die of dental infections every year. Just sayin

So why are the stats for caries in countries that do not fluoridate not much higher than in the ones that fluoridate?
https://www.galtsgulchonline.com/post...

Is the benefit really a result of fluoridation?

I had a long discussion (without benefit of any scientific study) with one of the people who passed the law to fluoridate water in NZ. He said he was sure he was right to do so at the time, but based upon history he was having second thoughts about the reason for the decline in decay.

Maybe all the decay was sucked into Washington DC and Detroit. ;^)

The problem, freedom, is that what you are talking about requires intelligence and effort. If you can just assume for a moment that fluoridated water prevents 80-90% of caries in permanent teeth FOR LIFE, and requires no effort or cost on the part of the person, now how about that? I'm not only speaking theoretically, by the way.
For whatever it's worth, I am not in favor of forced ANYTHING, but the benefits have been amazing. The downside would have to be pretty significant. I still think it should be up to the individual. But just like most people today have forgotten how horrible polio and whooping cough and many other diseases were before vaccinations, they also have no idea of the devastating, painful, and crippling effects of rampant cavities in the population.

Works well for wifey and me. Putting our dental hygienist out of business!

If the science proves a mouth rinse is a benefit. Could be a benefit to a segment of population and not to others. Any benefit to someone with a mouth full of dentures or implants? Any benefit beyond age of 12 (for example)? Not stating scientific facts here, just pointing out possibilities. When I have the facts I want the freedom to decide for myself based on my situation.

... and you don't have to eat it. Mouth rinses work fine.

I believe it is still in Florida water. In any case, the water we drink is either filtered or boiled. A perfect example of how the socialistic state can never leave well-enough alone.

Definitely.

I agree. Don't force feed fluoride to everyone via the public water system, "for your own good" or "for the greater good." If I think I need it based on unbiased evidence, I will add it to my supplement regime just as I add vitamins.

Go read the science on bone formation and how fluoride changes the process resulting in weaker bone. It may prevent cavities or not, but it surely will crack your teeth decades later.

Being alive causes cancer. It must, since dead people dont get cancer.

Anything can cause cancer in enough quantities. What I want to see is a truly causal study.

A study can be constructed to show oxygen causes cancer.

Maybe so. Maybe not. People should decide for themselves, but not because of this risk.

Agreed. Is there fire with the smoke? Why does it make sense to force feed everyone fluoride in the water? Where is the proof that there is a benefit to the entire population at all ages that exceeds any likely long-term side effects? Is age a factor? Is diet a factor? Are there economic factors that have nothing to do with dental health? I also think solid research should be done.

We can give our own personal opinions (and experiences) about this but nothing will be resolved. You nor I can really say if the fluorude in the water has done any good or any harm based on our current health experience. Does the rest of the first world (non-US with a few exceptions like Australia) have any higher incidence of dental caries than the US even though they do not put fluoride in the water?
Without controlled unbiased long-term scientifically based testing we won't know.

Freedom, the article is proposing hypotheses and quoting statistics, but offering no proof. I agree that each person should decide for himself, but I would like that person to look at facts, not speculation.
I am seeing a huge rise in cavities in young people as their diet includes an average of 6 sugared drinks a day. With reduced economic circumstances for middle class families, we are facing an epidemic of tooth loss, infections, and severe pain. I hope solid research will be done.

Fluoride was/is in NY public water the entire time I lived there. Countless millions people, myself included, drank city water and, to my knowledge, I'm cancer free AND haven't had a cavity in 20+ years. I mostly credit good genetics but the level of Fluoride in NY water seems certainly not to have hurt me.

Don't accept the word of either side of this issue. Do your own due diligence. Open your mind to reality.