Q.: Is it true that sodium fluoride in toothpaste is bad for you? James
KLAUS FERLOW REPLIES:
Absolutely, yes! Sodium fluoride is derived from hydrofluoric acid which is produced by a reaction between sulphuric acid and fluorspar, an ore rich in calcium fluoride, which is a toxic chemical. In fact, fluoride is the main ingredient in rat poison. The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has never approved any fluoride product designed for human ingestion and ironically it has been shown not to reduce cavities.
Scientists are, on the other hand, finding links between fluoride and arthritis, allergic reactions, cancer and dental fluorosis (fluoride poisoning) which can result in darkened or mottled teeth, erosion of the tooth enamel, compromised bone structure and other problems including learning disabilities, kidney disease and brain lesions. On average only 50% of the fluoride we take in each day is excreted through the kidneys with the remainder accumulating in our bones, pineal gland and other tissues. In the event of kidney damage, fluoride accumulation will increase and with it the likelihood of further harm. When swallowed, fluoride may cause Crohn’s disease.
Fluoride is especially dangerous to small children who may tend to swallow toothpaste during or after brushing teeth. Many toothpaste manufacturers include the warning ‘Not for children under the age of six years’ on their products.
Rather look for a herbal toothpaste that does not contain fluoride!
Editor's note: A groundbreaking study published in Pharmacognosy Magazine titled ‘Curcumin attenuates neurotoxicity induced by fluoride: An in vivo evidence' sheds light on fluoride's detrimental effects on the brain. Conducted by researchers from the Department of Zoology at M.L. Sukhadia University, India, the study investigates how fluoride triggers neurodegeneration, particularly in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex.
The research identifies excitotoxicity and oxidative stress as key factors driving neurodegeneration in fluoride-exposed subjects. Those with fluorosis, characterized by enamel mottling due to excess fluoride exposure, exhibit neurodegenerative changes linked to lipid peroxidation. This process reduces brain phospholipid content, worsening brain health.
Given these mechanisms, the researchers turned to curcumin, the primary polyphenol in turmeric, as a potential neuroprotective agent. Previous studies show curcumin's antioxidant properties, protecting against various damaging radicals and boosting the brain's own antioxidant defenses, such as glutathione production.
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