Fluoride Free Alternatives

A History of Fluoride: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Why and how was fluoride introduced into the dental field if it is so concerning to many?

Like many other new findings, the initial “positive” aspects of fluoride may soon be overshadowed by the negative outcomes of these therapies.

In 1909, a dentist in Colorado noticed that many of his patients had brown mottling on their teeth but also showed a lower incidence of decay. In 1927, another dentist in Arkansas noticed many of his patients had extensive staining and less decay. The town got their water from a deep well near the site of an aluminum plant; fluoride is a waste byproduct of aluminum mining.

By 1937, a Danish researcher published a 364-page report titled Fluorine Intoxication. In it, he details the bone disease, skin lesions, and mortality that result from long-term exposure to fluoride. He also questions its ability to protect teeth.

Despite these findings, for many years up until the late 1990s, fluoride has been touted to be the answer to how we prevent tooth decay. Starting around 1997, more studies emerged about the risks of bone damage. The FDA required that toothpaste manufacturers place a poison control label on the tubes and boxes.

By the early 2000s, the CDC issued guidelines and released a report suggesting that the current upper limit for fluoride in water could cause tooth damage, bone fractures, and neurological problems and may be connected to certain cancers. It recommends the EPA lower the safe exposure limit.

How is Fluoride-Free Dentistry Healthier?

When ingested in high doses, fluoride has been linked to:

• Damaging our teeth, bones, and even affects our neurological system
• Damage to our bodies by possibly worsening other systemic health conditions, including:
  • Diabetes
  • Thyroid conditions
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Osteoporosis
  • Preeclampsia and preterm birth
  • Colorectal or Gastrointestinal cancers
  • Arthritis
  • Anemia
  • Kidney damage

Given all the concerns of ill effects of fluoridation, why would we condone its use,especially when it’s been shown to have minimal effectiveness overall? The main concern is for children. Many European countries have banned water fluoridation.

Why would we want to use a potential neurotoxin when there are many scientific studies showing that there are alternatives that are safe and effective?  Let’s take a look at these alternatives to fluoride.

Fluoride-Free Dental Alternatives

More research shows that fluoride can potentially have a multitude of ill-effects, but there is also much research showing the benefits of alternative treatments. Because we are dedicated to your overall health, we at the Holistic Dental Center want to emphasize that we will use evidence-based therapies that are not only effective, but are also safe and biocompatible.

Calcium Phosphate: Calcium phosphate is a compound that has a free form of calcium and phosphate, which are essential in the remineralization of enamel. It’s a naturally occurring mineral found in bone and teeth. The Holistic Dental Center uses Recalcedent, which is a form of calcium phosphate and the FDA designated Recaldent as a “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) ingredient to add to food products in 1999.

Calcium phosphate represents an innovative biomimetic approach because of its similarities to natural tooth enamel. This will broaden the range of fluoride-free, preventive dentistry treatment options in the future.

Nano-Hydroxyapatite: The benefits of nano-hydroxyapatite cannot be overstated. Hydroxyapatite is the main component of teeth and bones. Since it’s a naturally occurring mineral and what our body already produces, nano-hydroxyapatite is completely biocompatible and 100% non-toxic.

Many studies show that nano-hydroxyapatite is significantly effective in remineralizing teeth, without the potential negative side effects of fluoride. Due to its incredibly small particle size, nano-hydroxyapatite remineralizes minute spaces where early decay occurs, while also acting as a barrier to the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Because our teeth recognize the nano-hydroxyapatite compound, they deeply absorb and uptake the hydroxyapatite, reaching further into the teeth to make them stronger and more resistant to decay, without any toxicity.

How do we Practice Fluoride-Free Dentistry?

As biological dentists, we take your health and the materials we use very seriously. Our retail products and the materials we use are all fluoride-free, including the water. In addition, our fluoride-free dental cleanings minimize the risk of bacteria and harmful chemicals into the bloodstream during treatment because we choose to use only clean materials.

We use medical grade ozonated water, non-toxic polishing paste, and herbal solutions, which promote healthy teeth and gums. You can feel confident that our protocols, materials, and retail products will protect you from harmful toxins, every step of the way.

Sources: 

• Scientific resources can be found at the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) website under Fluoride Facts
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4252862/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5997847/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29603704/
• Azarpazhooh A, Limeback H. Clinical efficacy of casein derivatives. A systematic review of the literature. J Am Dent Assoc. 2008;139:915-924