In the last issue of a local newspaper, an article by a local dentist just opening his office appeared. In this article he extolled the virtues of fluoride.

I would like to correct his conception about fluoride being a nutrient. A nutrient is something that benefits us. For example, selenium is a micronutrient that is essential for our health. It is only required in amounts of 100 to 200 micrograms daily. Since it is a micronutrient, larger amounts of selenium are toxic. Selenium, in the proper amount, has been shown to reduce rates of many different kinds of cancer.
As opposed to nutrients, toxins are not healthy for us in any amount. Fluoride is one of those. Mercury, lead and cadmium are other notable examples. Toxins are always detrimental to us in any amount.

Chlorine is added to our water to eliminate harmful bacteria which can make us sick. It is a treatment for the water. Fluoride, on the other hand, does not treat the water at all. It is to treat us. Thus we are medicating the public whether we want it or not.

One of the major problems with the long-term intake of fluoride is skeletal fluorosis. This consists of calcification of the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments, meaning that flexion and extension of the spinal cord become severely limited. Additionally, there is stenosis (shrinking) of the spinal canal, leaving little room for the spinal cord. There’s also shrinkage of the spinal foramina, causing impingement of the nerves exiting and entering the spinal cord. Overgrowth of the vertebral bodies is another thing noted on x-rays, causing limitation of twisting and torsion of the spine. All of these things cause significant symptoms in the elderly. Skeletal fluorosis does not occur overnight. It often takes more than a decade to manifest itself. When you see a cause and effect that are separated by a short time span, it is easy to figure out what happened. When cause and effect are separated by a decade, it becomes much harder. We are keeping neurosurgeons and orthopedists quite busy operating on painful backs caused by fluoride in the water. It is time we recognized the danger of adding fluoride to our water.

If you are interested in learning more about fluoride and its detrimental effects on us, I recommend Health and Nutrition Secrets, a book by Russell Blaylock, MD. He is a recently retired Neurosurgeon who also has a strong interest in nutrition. The chapter on fluoride is the most researched piece on fluoride I know. I highly recommend it.