Toxic fluoride soon unnecessary
Fluoride has long been a standard - but nevertheless very controversial - addition to toothpastes and chewing gums. It has also been added to drinking water in an effort to protect against tooth decay, but the proponents of fluoridation are facing stiff resistance from no-fluoride advocacy groups such as the Fluoride Action Network.
The fight may soon be over as new non-toxic alternatives to fluoride in toothpaste and chewing gum are developed.
In a study to be presented on 28 June, 2003 at the General Session of the International Association of Dental Research in Goteborg, Sweden CaviStat, a new cavity fighting agent, is described as "significantly more effective than fluoride in reducing cavities".
As reported in an article in Businesswire on 24 June, CaviStat is the first in a new class of cavity fighting compounds that can counter the production of harmful plaque acids while simultaneously promoting remineralization of the teeth. CaviStat contains the amino acid, arginine, in conjunction with bicarbonate and calcium carbonate. These components are food grade, and unlike fluoride, are safe for young children to swallow in a toothpaste and can be added to candies and gum.
Updated June 29, 2003See also this article on fluoride toxicity.
96% Better Than Fluoride
BUSINESS WIRE
Tuesday 24 June 2003New Cavity Fighting Agent Significantly More Effective Than Fluoride in Two-Year 726 Patient Toothpaste Study
Children Brushing with Cavistat Paste Had 96% Fewer Cavities
ROSLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. - Study Results to Be Presented June, 28, 2003 at the 81St General Session of the International Association of Dental Research Goteborg, SwedenOrtek Therapeutics Inc. announced today that CaviStat(TM), a new cavity fighting agent, was significantly more effective than fluoride in reducing cavities in a two-year 726 patient toothpaste study.
The findings of this clinical trial will be presented at the 81st General Session of the International Association of Dental Research, Goteborg, Sweden on June 28, 2003. According to the study, children who brushed with a CaviStat toothpaste had 96% fewer cavities than children who brushed with fluoride toothpastes.
This study, which was sponsored by Ortek, was conducted by researchers at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and the University of Central Venezuela in Caracas.
CaviStat is the first in a new class of cavity fighting compounds that can counter the production of harmful plaque acids while simultaneously promoting remineralization of the teeth. CaviStat contains the amino acid, arginine, in conjunction with bicarbonate and calcium carbonate. These components are food grade, and unlike fluoride, are safe for young children to swallow in a toothpaste and can be added to candies and gum.
This is a very important additional benefit of CaviStat since excessive ingestion of fluoride during early childhood can cause dental fluorosis, a discoloring of the permanent teeth. In fact, to reduce the risk of fluorosis for children aged 6 or under, the Center for Disease Control, in an August 2001 report on fluoride use, recommended that toothpaste manufacturers develop a "child-strength" toothpaste with lower concentrations of fluoride.
Cavities are still one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. It affects people of all age groups. This infectious disease occurs when bacteria on tooth surfaces convert sugars to harmful acids that dissolve the teeth over time.
CaviStat(TM) is designed to interrupt this process. Alongside the acid-producing bacteria are other bacteria that metabolize arginine and produce base, which neutralizes the cavity forming acids. This elevated pH environment also promotes absorption of calcium back into the teeth, a process called remineralization.
CaviStat, which is based on over 30 years of research on saliva's substantial role in preventing tooth decay, was developed by Dr Israel Kleinberg, Distinguished Professor and Chairman of the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology at Stony Brook University.
Dr Israel Kleinberg said, "CaviStat represents a new direction in the battle against tooth decay. This unique compound can be very beneficial for children and for the millions of adults who are prone to root cavities due to poor saliva production. Reduced saliva flow, which often results in a rapid rise in the development of cavities, is caused by hundreds of prescription and non prescription drugs, cancer therapies and Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease."
Ortek Therapeutics, Inc. was granted exclusive worldwide licensing rights to CaviStat by the Research Foundation of the State University of New York. Ortek's President, Mitchell Goldberg said,
"There has been little innovation in the fight against tooth decay since the introduction of fluoride more than five decades ago. Based on the findings of this study and the large amount of laboratory data, we expect that CaviStat will eventually replace fluoride in the $5 billion worldwide toothpaste market. We are currently evaluating regulatory strategies to commercialize CaviStat as quickly as possible."
The following is a press statement of VOICE of Irish Concern for the Environment7, Upper Camden St D 2
Phone 01 475 0467
Press Release Press Release Press Release
Dublin, June 26th 2003
New, safer toothpaste ingredient further exposes absurdity of adding fluoride to water.
"A new, safer active ingredient in toothpaste is to be announced at a dental conference in Sweden on Saturday 28th June 2003. Designed to replace fluoride, this research further undermines Health Minister Martin. While he continues to insist that Irish public water must contain fluoride, toothpaste manufacturers are already abandoning it in favour of a safer alternative" declared VOICE spokesman Robert Pocock today.
This research (1) has not only shown that there are safer substances than fluoride but that they are apparently much more effective in preventing dental decay. Resulting from this new 2 year international research, most toothpaste producers are likely to replace fluoride with the safer ingredient, arginine, a food-grade amino acid. The promoters of the new CaviStat™ toothpaste claim that even if swallowed, it does not damage tooth enamel (dental fluorosis). It will also avoid fluoride’s other long-term effects like osteoporosis, irritable bowel syndrome and neurological damage.
The extent of the damage caused by fluoride is growing with some Irish dentists estimating that a third to half of all teenagers have dental fluorosis. The Health Minister downplays the severity of the problem in order to protect a policy long since discredited throughout mainland Europe.
While other EU countries try to protect their people from swallowed fluoride with an outright ban on it in Belgium, our Health Minister continues indiscriminate fluoridation via public water. Today, nine months after his Fluoridation Forum Report, infamously released on Sept 10th last year to minimize its public impact, the Expert Group to implement its recommendations is still not established.
"Stop the deception, Minister Martin and take fluoride out of our drinking water now " demanded the VOICE spokesman.
Update 29 June 2003:
Water: Alternative to fluoride`96% more effective'
Posted on Sunday, June 29 by Friends of the Irish Environment
Papers Today - A new product, Cavistat, is 96 per cent more effective than fluoride in preventing tooth decay, according to new research presented yesterday at the International Association of Dental Research conference in Sweden.The Irish government has always claimed that fluoride plays a vital role in the oral health of the Irish population, especially children, despite international reports claiming the effectiveness of water fluoridation can not be proven.
The Fluoridation Forum report, published last September, showed that 89 per cent of the public disapproved of the government's mass medication policy.
Cavistat was developed in a joint research programme between the University of New York and the University of Central Venezuela.
It contains digestible components which, unlike fluoride, are safe for young children to swallow.
Excessive ingestion of fluoride during childhood can cause dental fluorosis, a discolouring of permanent teeth. Irish Dentists Opposing Fluoridation (IDOF) estimate that a third to half of Irish teenagers have dental fluorosis. "This research further undermines the position of Minister for Health Micheal Martin," said Robert Pocock of anti-fluoridation campaigners VOICE.
"While he continues to insist that Irish public water must contain fluoride, toothpaste manufacturers are already abandoning it in favour of a safer alternative."
The Labour Party and the Green Party are opposed to the addition of fluoride to the country's water supply.
There have been no national health tests since the 1960 Health Act - which legalised fluoridation of drinking water - was passed after a 45-day High Court hearing. The Supreme Court later rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of the act.
In 2001, ten local authorities - including Dublin, Kerry, Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and Longford - and seven urban district councils voted against fluoridation, but remain bound by law to implement the policy.
Since fluoridation of water was first proposed to counter poor oral hygiene in the late 1950s, 98 per cent of Europe has rejected the treatment. Ireland and Singapore are the only countries that still have a national fluoridation policy.
Ortek Therapeutics, which has the worldwide licence for Cavistat, hopes it will replace fluoride in the $5 billion toothpaste sector.
By Stephen McMahon
(c) Sunday Business Post
See also:Toxic chemicals: the case against fluoride
By Mark Diesendorf - posted Wednesday, February 09, 2005
The use of fluorides in dental public health is an example of a class of chronically toxic chemicals that escapes the usual regulatory and assessment processes, avoids the fundamental principle of toxicology (namely to protect those at greatest risk) and violates medical ethics. Furthermore, it is argued here that the promotion of fluoridation uses the image of science while avoiding and misrepresenting its substance.
posted by Sepp Hasslberger on Sunday June 29 2003
updated on Friday December 3 2010URL of this article:
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2003/06/29/toxic_fluoride_soon_unnecessary.htm
Related ArticlesAvoid fluoride to cure IBS
The following letter has appeared in the UK magazine PROOF! What works in alternative medicine. February 2002, Vol 6, No.7, page 4. (PROOF! is published by What Doctors Don't Tell You). Chris Gupta Avoid fluoride to cure IBS. Re irritable bowel syndrome (PROOF! vol 5 no 2). I was surprised to see no mention of avoiding fluoride, which can cause 'non ulcer dyspeptic ' complaints with symptoms similar to IBS.... [read more]
June 28, 2003 - Chris GuptaWHO to review Fluoride Guidelines
Robert Pocock of VOICE, a campaigner for healthy drinking water, and specifically against the addition of toxic fluoride to the water supply, has said that the WHO is revising its Fluoride Guidelines, which were introduced in a rather clandestine manner. There may be just too much information coming to light about fluosilicates, a particularly nasty poison which is actually an industrial waste, and which in some countries is added to... [read more]
January 24, 2004 - Sepp HasslbergerFood, Not Fluoride, Reduces Cavities
This is a good follow up on the earlier post: "Spin Doctoring: Toxins - Fluoride" as it always boils down to food but they can't make any money with this most effective of all remedies... Chris Gupta ------------------------------------------- Food, Not Fluoride, Reduces Cavities (CONTACT LETTER TO YOUR OFFICIALS INCLUDED) From New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation July 2004 Cavities occur in 66% of U.S. preschool children, and more often... [read more]
July 15, 2004 - Chris GuptaFluoride and Old Lace
The UK government is pushing to lace drinking water with fluoride The way is being prepared by a law which will exempt water companies from legal responsibility for adding an industrial poison to communal water supplies. The International Fluoride Information Network, in its latest bulletin, says that "unfortunately, it is too late to influence the House of Lords who incredibly voted to modify the water bill to allow water... [read more]
July 31, 2003 - Sepp HasslbergerFluoride in your bones - cancer ahead
As the legislative battle rages in Great Britain over adding fluoride to the drinking water, with opposition from Greens and Mulsim, we hear from Ireland that last year, a study has established a definite link between the mineral in drinking water and bone cancer. Jennie Gorman from Australia has picked up and forwarded this important information and some discussion on the practice of fluoride in drinking water, which I would... [read more]
September 10, 2003 - Sepp HasslbergerWHO Ignores Science, Questions - Recommends Toxic Fluoride
When the World Health Organization in its most recent issue of Drinking Water Guidelines recommends that fluoride should never be missing from our water, is it really doing the bidding of the Sugar Industry? Certainly dental caries is promoted by our consumption of sugar and sweets, including soft drinks, and the economic interests behind these junk foods are enormous. Fluoride provides a convenient "red herring" to put our attention on... [read more]
April 12, 2005 - Sepp Hasslberger
