For decades, fluoride has been added to public water supplies in many countries to reduce dental cavities. It’s hailed as one of the greatest public health achievements.
But not everyone agrees. Critics warn about possible links between excess fluoride and:
Dental fluorosis (white or brown patches on teeth)
Skeletal fluorosis (joint and bone problems)
Concerns about neurological effects with long-term exposure
In India, high natural fluoride levels in groundwater have already created health problems in states like Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.
Supporters say controlled fluoride levels prevent cavities, especially in children who lack access to dental care. Opponents argue mass fluoridation is outdated and risky when safer alternatives like fluoride toothpaste already exist.
This debate continues at the intersection of dentistry, public health, and ethics.
What do you think?
Should fluoride be actively added to drinking water, or is it time to rethink this practice?
Fluoride is added to the water that effectively prevents the cavity without causing harmful side effects.according to the national cancer institution . Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel . And also protect from the bacteria in the mouth which can causes tooth decay
Fluoride has clear benefits in preventing cavities, but the risks of overexposure especially in countries like India where natural levels are already high can’t be ignored.
Fluoride in water helped reduce tooth decay in the past, but today we already get it from toothpaste and other sources. While it still protects teeth, too much can cause side effects like fluorosis. Maybe instead of adding it to everyone’s water, we should rethink and use more targeted approaches.
Toothpaste and dental floss have fluoride now. When the drinking water and the everyday products have so much fluoride content in them, it is ill advised to add more fluoride to the routine. But it might be a good measure at places where it is quite lacking.
I think it is time to rethink our approach towards chemical treatments in our water supply. More research is beginning to reveal the harmful side effects these treatments have on our bodies and overall well being from messing with hormonal balance to even neurological impact. We must assess the fluoride issue and find safer alternatives.
Honestly I feel water fluoridation made sense decades ago, but today we have better targeted options like fluoride toothpaste, gels and varnishes. In India especially with natural fluoride already high in some areas, adding more could do more harm than good. Maybe it’s time to rethink and adapt the approach to our current needs.
Fluoride in drinking water has helped reduce cavities, but in India, the situation is different. Many areas already have high natural fluoride, which causes health problems like dental and skeletal fluorosis. So adding more fluoride might do more harm than good. Instead, promoting fluoride toothpaste and better dental care can be safer and more targeted.
fluoride is useful for preventing cavities but when it crosses safe limits, it starts creating problems like weak bones, patches on teeth and even long-term health issues. In areas where groundwater already has high fluoride, adding more doesn’t really make sense. Maybe it’s better to focus on monitoring levels and giving awareness on safe alternatives like toothpaste, instead of blindly following the same rule everywhere. Balance is the key here.