I have heard in some towns, fluoride is put in drinking water?

Yes.

2/3 of the US population receives fluoridated water.

It is very common and very safe.

To find the fluoride level in your water can be found at this website:

http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/MWF/Index.asp

The evidence is very clear that our population's dental health is greatly improved as a result without significant risk.

Fluoride, in the levels added to public water sources (<2mg/L), has been proven NOT to cause mental retardation, osteoporosis, skin irritation or the other problems you mention.

From your comments, Jay, it is clear that you have strong feelings against the use of fluoride.

I respect your skepticism.

Skepticism is the hallmark of a good scientist.

Please review the evidence referenced below and on the CDC website. Thereafter, if you are unconvinced that fluoridation does far greater good for humanity than harm then I encourage you to pursue your petition.

http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/safety/nrc_report....

I live in Australia and the state I lived in had fluoride in the water, then I moved to another state where they didn't have fluoride in the water and I can honestly say I had never seen such tooth decay before, even young children had bad yellowing of their teeth. The local dentist even had a petition calling for the state to put it in the water. I am not sure if the people had a greater risk of mental illness, rashes or brittle bones but I will try to look that up.

My new state now has fluoride in the water.

Call you water company and visit: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/MWF/Index.asp

Read: The fluoride Deception by Christopher Bryson

Fluoridation: The Great Dilemma by Waldbott

You need to find out who has control over the decision to put fluoride in your water supply (even if it is not your water supply, fluoride is in the entire food chain because fluoridated tap water is used to make it)

Is it required by the state? Did your town or city council vote it in? Was there a referendum.? Did the water companies decide on their own to fluoridated? When you get this information, you know who to lobby to stop the flow.

Modern science indicates that ingesting fluoride to reduce tooth decay is ineffective, harmful and a waste of tax dollars.

Take action to stop fluoridation nationwide here:

http://congress.fluorideaction.net/

In all honesty, your first mistake is taking "Coast to Coast" as any sort of legitimate source of information.

Fluoride is in the water of *most* city water supplies in the United States, and some other countries. It is put there intentionally because it helps children develop strong teeth and to prevent cavities. It is extremely effective, and I have yet to see any scientific study that shows any meaningful relationship between the minute levels of fluoridation in water supplies and the negative effects you mention (or others that have been bandied about).

It certainly is true that very large doses of fluoride can be harmful - but nobody fluoridates water with anything near a harmful dose. (And, of course, you can same the same for any substance - too much can be harmful.)

I would also ask... if you are really concerned about the minute quantities of fluoride in your water, are you also going to stop using toothpaste. Toothpaste has VASTLY more fluoride in it than your water has.

1) You can call your water/public utility provider and ask, they will know.

I live in Singapore and we have fluoride in our water :) And this helps to prevent decay, just like we have fluoride in toothpaste! I think it works! My little sister who is too lazy to brush her teeth and only brushes her teeth every few days does not have decays too.

Most people associate fluoride with the practice of intentionally adding fluoride to public drinking water supplies for the prevention of tooth decay. However, fluoride can also enter public water systems from natural sources, including runoff from the weathering of fluoride-containing rocks and soils and leaching from soil into groundwater.

So this means that even if your water is not fluoride-added, it will still contain some fluoride.

However if you're still bothered and concerned about consuming fluoride -added water, you can purchase a water filter or drink bottled water.

You should be able to find out by making a call to your water provider (the company that bills you for water usage). They'll know. They should also be able to tell you what concentration is used.

Fluoridation of water supply is quite widespread in countries like The US and Australia.

If you are that concerned, you can buy a water filter for your drinking water. But be aware that not all water filters remove fluoride - if it doesn't specifically say it does, then in likely does not.

~

I just don't get why they do this anymore. We have much better health care and better ways to keep our teeth now. I do think that it does have some detrimental side effects to fluoridation.

Here's a book for you:

http://www.amazon.com/Fluoride-Drinking-Water-Scie...

yeah the little town that i lived in GA had fluoride in their water...

i never had a problem, not to mention ive never had a cavity in my life...and im 17. sure there are negative effects but there is such a small trace of it that it wont hurt you.