fluoridation

Several countries have banned water fluoridation for the very reason that after decades and decades there is no causal link between water fluoridation and tooth decay.

Public water fluoridation has well-understood health benefits (a reduction in cavities that cannot be achieved through brushing alone).

There was insufficient information available to understand the effect of stopping water fluoridation programmes on tooth decay.

It should be noted that the negative effects were found in areas with much higher levels of fluoridation (i.e.

Just so everyone is clear: this review found that there is little evidence that water fluoridation has any benefits.

If you must dispute water fluoridation on Hacker News, do so by making careful, factual, respectful comments.

The important thing to note here is that this review is looking for the impacts of fluoridation since the 1970s.

That book however has been dismissed by most supporters of fluoridation as written by a nutbar.

There are also studies on water fluoridation's impacts, though it's harder to test that, by nature.

The dentists agree with my observation but they reflexively attribute it to fluoridation of water.

The dentists are wrong about fluoridation explaining the difference between '70s kids and '90s kids.

Although mostly harmless, excessive fluoridation was recently linked to hypothyroidism in a UK study.

From the article: "But opponents of fluoridation and even some scientists maintain the new standard doesn't go nearly far enough.

The takeaway here shouldn't be the absurd headline that "fluoridation may not prevent cavities," it should be "we should study how effective fluoridation is now that we have added other successful interventions."

The "Plain language summary" from the authors - their words, so this is the authors of the study synthesizing their conclusions for a lay audience - is clear: Data suggest that the introduction of water fluoridation resulted in a 35% reduction in decayed, missing or filled baby teeth and a 26% reduction in decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth.

> The article also points out, "Another 2009 review[link] by the Cochrane group clearly shows that fluoride toothpaste prevents cavities, serving as a useful counterpoint to fluoridation’s uncertain benefits." I think you understood this, but I wanted to clarify for others: the Cochrane review that this article is about showed that fluoridated water may not prevent tooth decay.

Fluoridation has been mandatory in Ireland since the 50s.

Fluoridation for dental health is done at 0.7mg/liter.