Does Fluoride in Drinking Water Really Reduce Cavities?
Water fluoridation supporters claimed back then — and today — that there has been a significant drop in cavities across the U.S. population, a direct result of adding fluoride to drinking water supplies. While it’s true there has been a drop in tooth decay rates in America, there is no clear indication fluoride is responsible for that improvement. Besides, fluoride supporters conveniently forget the obvious: There has also been a significant drop in tooth decay for people who do not drink fluoridated water. So the reduction in tooth decay is not due to fluoride in the water but is instead due to a better diet and improved dental hygiene. In fact, according to a 2001 study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was found that by age 12, kids who live in fluoridated communities averaged only 1.4 fewer cavities that those in non-fluoridated communities. And, “even in fluoridated cities, severe tooth decay remains rampant among the poor,” according to Time,
