What are the disadvantages of water fluoridation?

Answer 1

Here are some of them :-

• It is a form of mass medication - people have no choice about whether or not they want the treatment .
• Fluoride can cause mottling of the teeth - white patches ( fluorosis ) .
• Fluoride is a benefit only to growing children - adults do not benefit .
• If people take proper care of their teeth , fluoridation is unnecessary .
• Fluoride may have side effects , such as an increase in risk of bone cancer ( but this is unlikely ) .

Answer 2

The disadvantages of adding fluoride to water concern primarily children and infants.

Children who drink fluoridated water are at increased risk of developing fluorosis, a defect of the permanent teeth resulting in staining and, in severe cases, substantial corrosion of the enamel. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 30 percent of children who drink fluoridated water have some degree of fluorosis. The National Academy of Sciences has also raised concerns about fluoride exposure and bone fractures in the elderly, skeletal fluorosis, thyroid hormone disruption, and neurotoxicity (including effects on IQ). In addition, there is evidence that fluoridated water is linked to osteosarcoma, an often fatal form of bone cancer, in boys.

Besides, both the Centers for Disease control and the American Dental Association now recommend that children under 6 months not consume fluoridated water. This is because infants are at increased risk for tooth damage (dental fluorosis) when they consume fluoridated water (especially when formula made with such water is their only source of nutrition), and because there is little evidence that ingesting fluoride before teeth erupt provides any benefit.

Source: http://www.ewg.org/EWGFAQ#

Answer 3

Advantages:

• Water fluoridation helps to protect adults and children from tooth decay.
• It provides additional protection to fluoridated toothpaste.
• Preventing tooth decay can save your family the pain and discomfort of toothache
• It also saves the expense required to treat the disease.
• The U.S. Center for Disease Control lists water fluoridation as one of the "ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th century."

Disadvantages:

• It is a form of mass medication - people have no choice about whether or not they want the treatment.
• Too much fluoride can cause mottling of the teeth - white patches (fluorosis ).
• Fluoride is a benefit only to growing children - adults do not benefit.
• If people take proper care of their teeth, fluoridation is unnecessary.

If you drink water with fluoride in it, you should not use fluoride supplements as well. If using fluoride toothpaste children should only use as much as the size of a pea.

Answer 4

advantage: good for teeth and keeps them white.

disadvantage: over the long term it can damage the brain and it can also poison people.

Answer 5

The advantages are that it keeps it white and good for teeth.

The disatvantages are that it does brain damage and poisons people.