About two years ago I took my oldest daughter to get her teeth cleaned.  This was back when I was married and had a husband who I had to occasionally humor with his preference in consulting a doctor every time one of us sneezed.   I went in knowing I was not OK with fluoride but as the dental hygienist began to rake me over the coals for rejecting their fluoride treatment I realized that while I knew it was harmful, I did not know the reasons why.  Let me tell you, that hygienist, while sweet as can be, was like a soldier going into battle.  She couldn’t let it go nor could she believe I wasn’t taking her word for it.  So often taking a stand against a norm in the medical community is incredibly hard to do-it takes big balls, my friends.  I don’t make a habit of discussing balls in my posts but there is no better way to describe it.  If we are going to go against doctors, you better have the facts to back up the conviction. Fast forward to 3 weeks ago and I was at a play date with several moms and we were discussing fluoride in toothpaste and was it good or bad.  Once again, I piped in with my opinion against it but had no facts backing up my convictions.  So, it’s way over due that I figure out exactly why we should be avoiding fluoride and in true Jenni Raincloud form, we’re going to learn together because this blog is how I learn.  I hope you all know I don’t claim to be an expert on really anything-I research, share and learn with you.

This research was long over due, let me tell you.  Be prepared to get your mind blown.  I’ve found out so many disturbing facts about fluoride that it’s sickening.  According to several sources, fluoride has been called a developmental neuro-toxin that can be compared to led, mercury and flame-retardants.  Saying no to fluoride in our toothpaste is just the tip of the iceberg.  Fluoride is being injected into our city water and has been for decades.  As usual (as with so many skin care ingredients as well) most European countries have banned fluoride.  Yep, the American government is loose as a goose when it comes to protecting us from poisonous substances to the point that it is still being added to our drinking water despite large amounts of data showing that it is a poison.

So first off, why is there fluoride in our water and why does the majority of the dental community recommend it as a treatment and demand it be in our toothpaste?  Beginning in 1945, fluoride was added to our water in the U.S.  It was thought to strengthen the teeth, protecting them against tooth decay and cavities.  Fluoridating our water was meant solely to improve our dental health.  After many, many years of doing this-Americans show the same reduction in tooth decay as people that live in the 97% of western European countries that have banned fluoridation.  This is according to the World Health Organization.  This proves that fluoride is not an effective dental tool.

Fluoride is a drug.  It is used to treat a disease. The real shocker here is that someone other then myself has determined that I need a drug to treat a condition that neither myself nor my children asked to be treated for.  Does this make sense?  I avoid drugs at all costs-how is it OK that the majority of Americans are unknowingly drinking a toxic poison?  What’s even weirder is that by drinking fluoride only a tiny percentage is benefiting our teeth.  The majority of water goes down the drain!

According to Dr. Mercola, the pure form of fluoride is not being injected into our water.  Rather hydrofluosilicic acid is used which is a toxic waste product of the fertilizer industry that is frequently contaminated with heavy metals and other toxins.

Negative Effects of Fluoride:

• Lowers IQ
• Damages healthy thyroid function
• Causes male infertility
• Weakens bones including teeth
• Causes dental fluorosis-browning and rotting of teeth
• ADHD

Where are we getting fluoride?

• Tap water
• toothpaste
• fluoride treatments at the dentist office

What is very important to note is that bottle fed infants and young children as well as unborn babies are being exposed to unsafe levels of fluoride.  These are the most important years in brain development.  Younger children are at a much higher risk of developing a lower IQ as well as bone and teeth issues from being exposed to fluoride.

Roughly 40% of teenagers in the U.S. have dental fluorosis due to over exposure to fluoride.

What Can We Do?

It’s easy to opt for fluoride free toothpaste but as for protecting your drinking water, Brita or Pure (carbon based filters) won’t cut it.  Reverse osmosis, a water distillation system, or buying spring water are the best ways to omit fluoride.

What’s really crazy is that it is hard to find toothpaste that doesn’t contain fluoride, especially children’s toothpaste.  If you look on the tube of toothpaste that contains fluoride you will see that the fluoride is referred to as poison and if swallowed, you must contact poison control.  I even read that 1/2 a tube of toothpaste that contains fluoride will kill a small child.  Ok, so bubblegum flavored toothpaste specifically marketed to our kids can kill them?!  I don’t know about your kids but mine are terrible spitters.  Even when they try really hard, I know they have swallowed some toothpaste.

I have a DIY toothpaste recipe that is easy to make and super effective for maintaining healthy gums and teeth.  Toms’s of Maine is easy to find but I just found out it contains sodium lauryl sulfate (all though it is naturally derived)-BOO!  Check out THIS and THIS brand that are more natural.  THIS is what I’ll try on my girls once their Tom’s runs out.

If you are as infuriated as I am about fluoridating our water, check out the website, Fluoride Action Network.  Educate yourself further then this article about what is really going on.  Ignorance is bliss but unfortunately practices like fluoridating are catching up to us.  Also go HERE for Dr. Mercola’s article and 2 short films that I found very interesting.

Not such a light-hearted post today but sometimes we gotta discuss the big issues that go past lip balm recipes and makeup tutorials.  I hope you found this informative and I hope I encouraged you to educate yourself for the future of our health and our children’s health.  As I seem to say a lot-Our health is in nobodies hands but our own. 

xx, Jenni