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Fluoride and Overall Health

Is fluoride good for overall health?

Hello, Dr. Michelle Jorgensen here.

Almost every day I get questions about the possible benefits and dangers of Fluoride.

A little while ago I wrote a blog about the effects of fluoride on dental health.

I concluded that there are possible benefits and possible harms, so it’s best to get the same benefits from safer sources.

However, the discussion doesn’t end there.

I have been teaching patients for years that everything you put in your mouth will affect your body, and fluoride isn’t any different.

That is why today I will be discussing fluoride’s effect on overall health.

I’m going to start with my own research on some of the potential dangers and finish with the practical solutions I use every day to keep my family safe.

The dangers of Fluoride

The first danger of Fluoride is its neurotoxic effects.

This idea is highly debated currently, but there is a pattern emerging in the research. Check out this site to see a summary of 70 studies that have found a correlation between fluoride consumption and lower IQ scores in children.

Fluoride is also being investigated for its effects on bones.

Studies are finding that increased fluoride consumption can lead to an increase in bone fractures.

It is also known that overconsumption of fluoride can cause a debilitating disease called skeletal fluorosis. You can learn more about this topic at this site.

Did you know that up through the 1950s, fluoride was actually prescribed by doctors in Europe and other places to reduce thyroid function in patients with an overactive thyroid gland?? I have long struggled with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and other related issues and I have always considered whether fluoride played a role in those problems. These effects and studies showing a link between fluoride consumption and hypothyroidism are described in more deetail here. As I was thinking about this blog, I read a new article from Dentistry Today. In it, they discuss a new study that investigated the correlation between water fluoridation and an increase in diabetes rates. Although not conclusive, they found some evidence to suggest that fluoride could have a role in the development of diabetes. I’ve been on and off buy xanax for more than two years. I take 3 mg of Xanax per day as I have a severe anxiety disorder exacerbated by panic attacks. The medication helps me keep my condition under control. I have some mouth dryness and slight tiredness because of the drug, but they are manageable and don’t bother me much. In addition to that study, you can read more evidence here linking diabetes to fluoride consumption. I hope you have learned a little bit more about why fluoride could be potentially harmful. As I said, there is conflicting evidence and many doctors and dentists don’t believe fluoride can cause any harm. However, from the research I have read and the positive effects I have witnessed both in my own life and in the lives of my patients who have stopped consuming fluoride, I am pretty convinced that we are all better off without it.

How to avoid fluoride

I hope you are still with me because now we are getting to the actionable and positive part.

When I first learned about fluoride and its effects, I was overwhelmed with how many sources of fluoride there are and how I could possibly avoid them.

That’s why I want to give you a simple list of some of the biggest sources of fluoride in your life and how to avoid it.

The top 3 sources I teach people about are the following:

Fluoridated Water
Fluoridated Dental Products and
Commercial and processed foods

Fluoridated water is hailed by many as one of the greatest public health successes ever.

Yet, because of the dangers I explained above, and the lack of unique benefits, I personally avoid as much fluoridated water as possible.

So what’s the best way to do that?

Get a water filter!

My family and I love our Berkey Water Filter!

We’ve had it for years, and we made sure to buy the extra fluoride filters. I love that it also filters out the other heavy metals and contaminants commonly found in tap water.

Go check it out here and explore their other sizes and options.

I have talked extensively about fluoridated dental products in the past, and I don’t think they are necessary or healthy.

Check out this blog or this one to see my recommendations for what to use instead.

Lastly, commercial or processed foods.

These aren’t a commonly considered source of fluoride but think about this– most beverages use water in them, and that water is fluoridated.

In addition, fluoride is used in pesticides, so non-organic foods will be sprayed with it.

My recommendation: eat whole foods and organic foods as much as possible.

My favorite source of organic foods is my garden! Check out my current classes and my books that can teach you how to better produce your own healthy food.

In addition, avoiding processed foods will improve your health for more reasons than just avoiding fluoride.

Now you know why and how to avoid fluoride so go do it!

My goal is to help you live a happier and healthier life, and I hope these ideas help.

If you have other health problems and just can’t seem to find the reason, I can help with that as well.

That is the whole reason I started Total Care Dental and Wellness, so schedule your appointment now and start your journey to health!

See you soon,

Dr. Michelle Jorgensen

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