Nicole Aucoin

Brietta Oaks

NFS 441 – Position Paper 3

12/1/17

Should Fluoride be Added to Drinking Water?

Fluoride, a nonessential nutrient, is known for preventing tooth decay and making teeth

resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars (1). The positive, dental benefits are

desirable, therefore, addition of fluoride to drinking water began in 1945 after tooth decay and

erosions became common (1). Fluoride can now be found in toothpaste and is given as a

treatment during dental cleanings which are recommended 1-2 times per year. Too much can

cause fluorosis, which creates white specks or mottling of the teeth (2,3). Studies show too

much fluoride in the body can cause harm to organs such as the liver (4). Due to the potential

harmful effects, fluoride should not be added to drinking water.

The UL for fluoride increases with age. Children ages 4-8 should not consume more than

2.2mg per day. Adolescents and adults should not consume more than 10mg per day (4). If 5-10

grams are ingested, it can lead to death. There are about 0.7-1.2mg of fluoride per liter of tap

water. In 2015, the DHHS recommended no more than 0.7mg in tap water. In bottled water,

there is about .11ppm of fluoride (3). Toothpastes contain 1000-1450ppm which give an

adequate amount when used 2-3 times per day. Not swallowing toothpaste is encouraged

because of possible illness, therefore, fluoride should also not be swallowed through water. In

recent years, fluorosis has become an issue and removal of fluoride using specific technology

(5). Fluoride should come from toothpaste and dental treatments, not water.
 References

1. Kaminsky, Laurence S., Mahoney, Martin C., Leach, James, Melius, James, Miller, Mary
Jo. Fluoride: Benefits and Risks of Exposure  Oral Biol Med
2. Barbier O, Arreola-Mendoza L, Del Razo LM. Molecular mechanisms of fluoride toxicity.
Chemi Biol Interact 2010;188:319-33
3. Cheng KK, Sheldon TA, Chalmers L. Adding fluoride to water supplies. Br J Med
2007;335:699
4. Davies RM, Ellwood RP, Bentley EM. Oral hygiene Fluoride ingestion from toothpaste by
young children. Br Dent J 1999;186:460-2.
5. Meenakshi, Maheshwari RC. Fluoride in drinking water and its removal. J. Hazard.
Mater. 2006;137:456-63