# Straight Dope Fail on Fluoride **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 30, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-fail-on-fluoride/555537 "2010-09-30T00:00:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-fail-on-fluoride/555537/41 "2010-10-11T21:22:06Z")
**Jenaroph** , I didn’t see that when I looked. Guess I shoulda looked closer. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-fail-on-fluoride/555537/42 "2018-09-23T15:07:44Z")
I read Cecil’s column [Is fluoride in water a good thing or a danger?](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2692/is-fluoride-in-water-a-good-thing-or-a-danger/) and wondered if in the past decade-plus since it was published that any new research has been unearthed. Science is a process, so maybe the things I read online about how fluoride causes cancer and other similar complaints that use more recent “research” have some merit? Mind you, I don’t think that’s the case. My layman’s view is that those against fluoridated water are paranoid and that the stuff has helped out teeth without hurting much else. It’s not a shock to me that most of those against it tend to be distrustful of the government Libertarian types. But I come here seeking the Straight Dope for refuting the arguments as just calling them nutcases seems lacking intellectual vigor. I may be a layman, but I have standards. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-fail-on-fluoride/555537/43 "2018-09-25T20:46:54Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > Science is a process, so maybe the things I read online about how fluoride causes cancer and other similar complaints that use more recent “research” have some merit? Nope. There has been additional research and comprehensive reviews published since Cecil’s column appeared in 2007 (and since the drive-by OP appeared in 2010). Dental and public health organizations continue to overwhelmingly recommend public water fluoridation as a key tool for preventing/reducing tooth decay in children. The only significant change I’m aware of is a government recommendation to lower the level of fluoride in water to 0.7 mg/liter instead of the former recommended range of 0.7-1.2 mg/L. This change reflected awareness that kids were getting other sources of fluoride supplementation besides water, and to lower the risk of dental fluorosis (staining of teeth, mostly hard-to-detect whitish deposits seen at high fluoride intake levels). Other postulated risks (i.e bone fractures, cancer, endocrine disruption and lower I.Q.s) have not panned out, leaving us with only a potential for mostly undetectable tooth staining in a small fraction of the population. Still seems like a worthwhile tradeoff. Relevant sources: > **[U.S. Public Health Service Recommendation for Fluoride Concentration in...](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4547570/)** > **[Cavities: Community Water Fluoridation | The Community Guide](https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/dental-caries-cavities-community-water-fluoridation.html)** > > Task Force recommends community water fluoridation to reduce cavities (caries, tooth decay). Read effectiveness and economic evidence from systematic review. > [@](#): > > But I come here seeking the Straight Dope for refuting the arguments as just calling them nutcases seems lacking intellectual vigor. The original responses to an OP citing “the very dirty truth about the history behind public water fluoridation & it’s implication in the production of the atomic bomb” seemed relatively muted to me, and included straightforward presentation of evidence in refutation of the OP’s fears. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-fail-on-fluoride/555537.md?page=2)