Frequently asked Questions

WHY IS FLUORIDE ADDED TO WATER?

Fluoride is added to drinking water in an attempt to prevent the tooth decay in young children which is generally caused by poor diet, excess sugar.
Unlike Chlorine it is not added for purposes of water treatment. As it is intended to affect the teeth it is medication through the water supply.

ISN,T IT JUST A PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURE LIKE VACCINATION?

Any medication you take is a considered choice for most and protected by legislation.
Although Fluoride is being used to treat the teeth and is therefore a medication it has not been subjected to the rigorous testing and legislation required for drug and food products.
There has never been an informed national debate about the ethics of adding chemicals to the water supply to affect health issues such as obesity, smoking , mental health etc.

DOES FLUORIDE WORK?

Internationally levels of dental decay have improved over the last few decades. This has been linked to better dental care and the use of fluoride toothpaste. Many countries and areas in the UK who have rejected water fluoridation have better dental decay than fluoridated areas.

Water fluoridation was introduced decades ago without adequate evidence of its safety or effectiveness. Its use in water is now widely questioned.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH USING FLUORIDE?

Everyone has individual exposure and tolerance levels. Anyone with poor kidney or digestive functions will be unable to effectively excrete fluoride. Also at risk are infants fed milk formula made up with fluoridated water.

Approximately 50% of the amount you take in is excreted. The remainder is deposited in the bones and over time levels build up in the body . Skeletal and dental fluorosis are well documented consequences of over exposure to fluoride.

To avoid fluorosis you need information about controlling fluoride intake and knowledge about your daily levels and lifetime intake .

HOW CAN I GET TESTED FOR FLUORIDE LEVELS IN MY BODY?

No fluoride information or tests have been made available to West Cumbrians. No testing of the daily levels or ongoing analysis of the fluoride deposited in the skeleton have been undertaken locally or nationally by health authorities.

CAN I REMOVE FLUORIDE FROM MY WATER SUPPLY?

Only a specific water filter can remove fluoride see HOW CAN I AVOID FLUORIDE

For more comprehensive information on how fluoride can affect your health go to http://fluoridealert.org/