The Birchers Must Have Captured HHS

US says too much fluoride...
...causing splotchy teeth

Remember when opposition to fluoridation of water was vehemently opposed by the John Birch Society, and opposition to fluoridation was considered a mark of right wing lunacy (Yes, I know this dates me)?  Well, it turns out you can have too much of a good thing:

About 2 out of 5 adolescents have tooth streaking or spottiness because of too much fluoride, a government study found recently. In extreme cases, teeth can be pitted by the mineral — though many cases are so mild only dentists notice it. The problem is generally considered cosmetic and not a reason for serious concern.

The splotchy tooth condition, fluorosis, is unexpectedly common in youngsters ages 12 through 15 and appears to have grown more common since the 1980s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But there are also growing worries about more serious dangers from fluoride.

The Environmental Protection Agency released two new reviews of research on fluoride Friday. One of the studies found that prolonged, high intake of fluoride can increase the risk of brittle bones, fractures and crippling bone abnormalities.

I knew of the problem of tooth discoloration since at least a course in trace element nutrition in graduate school, but we didn't see it as a serious problems.  It's a natural occurrence in areas where well water has high fluoride levels, where people were first observed to have fewer cavities.

A Severe Case of Dental Fluorosis

Our water is unfluoridated, simply because it is beyond the ability (or legal capacity) of our small town water system to add fluoride.  Fluoride is a deadly toxin at fairly low levels; the lethal dose for an adult is on the order of 1-10 g and much lower doses cause brittle bones, and gastric disorders.  You wouldn't want to make a mistake with the dosers...