Fluoride Argumentative Essay Solution

Fluoride. What is it? A nutrient? A medication? A pollutant? Water fluoridation has been a popular matter that has been going on for years. Many cities have been implementing fluoride in public water systems and many have not. The reason behind water fluoridation is that can help tooth decay. But fluoride’s adverse effects prevent some cities from imposing this practice. Water fluoridation should not be implemented within public water systems due to its detrimental effects on health, its catastrophic environmental impact, and it being an unethical health intervention since it goes against individual choice.

Fluoride has gained its popularity in attempts to prevent tooth decay and dental caries, otherwise known as cavities. It was incorporated into oral health products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash, acting as a topical

Usually, depending on the severity, mild fluorosis creates white and opaque spotting on the teeth, later turning into yellow and brown in color, if moderate or severe. In an observational study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCHS), there has been a 20.1% increase of dental fluorosis in adolescents, ages 12-15, in fluoridated communities over a span 15 years (Beltrán-Aguilar). In consuming fluoride it not only causes dental fluorosis, but it can also cause skeletal fluorosis, a bone disease which causes painful damage to bones, joints, and limbs (Peckham and Awofeso). The systemic ingestion of fluoride does not provide any benefit towards the body. In adding such treatments to public water, it causes a buildup of fluoride to start at an early age, causing harm to developing children. Fluoride levels in water range from about 0.5-4.8 mg/L, and high levels of fluoride, such as 2.0mg/L and higher cause renal damage,