While most conventional dentists recommend fluoridetoothpaste, fluoride supplements, and fluoridated wat, holistic dentists usually do not. Traditionally, dentists have felt that fluoride is a key factor in preventing tooth decay. Many holistic dentists, however, feel that research shows fluoride is not efective against tooth decay and in fact it may cause several physical illnesses when used. According to John Laughlin IV, Health Centered Dentistry in River Falls, Wisconsin, “the basic toxicity and lack of data supporting the premise that using it reduces tooth decay” is the main reason holistic dentists advocate staying away from fluoride.
Fluoride affects many tissues in your body besides your teeth (articles/mercola.com) and may cause arthritis, hypersensitivity, diabetes, thyroid disease, cancer, and other illnesses. Laughlin says that “normal oral hygiene is the best thing we can do for our teeth, flossing one to three timesa day, brushing two to three times a day, and using a water pik, pastes that can help tooth health, and mouth rinses.” Regular cleanings and checkups are important too. Research by the World Health Organization found that fluoridated countriesdo not have less tooth decay than non-fluoridated countries. Over 40 percent of teenagers have visible signs of fluoride overexposure, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/04/30/water-fluoridation-facts.asp).
Be informed before using fluoride toothpaste or supplementsand consider filtering your water to avoid the fluoride often found in it. The types of water filters that remove fluoride include reverse osmosis, deionizers (which use ion-exchange resins), and activated alumina.
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