Fluoridealert.org – Fluoride Action Network.

Griffin Cole, DDS – International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology

I am Dr. Griffin Cole, a practicing dentist of over 20 years, here in Austin Texas. This package that I am holding here contains Sodium Fluoride. Sodium Fluoride is a drug that is routinely prescribed to children in the United States as a means to prevent cavities. It also comes in tablets and lozenges. These forms of fluoride are often called fluoride supplements but don’t let the word supplement fool you. As these are not supplements in the way calcium, magnesium and other real nutrients are. Infact due to fluoride toxicity, you can’t even buy fluoride supplements over the counter. You can only get them through a prescription and unlike true dietary supplements; Fluoride is not an essential nutrient, which means you don’t need to swallow any fluoride to maintain good health.

It is also crucial for you to know that according to a recent warning letter from the FDA marketing fluoride drugs as cavity preventatives violates federal law because the FDA has never approved these drugs for this purpose. Yet these drugs are still being prescribed to millions of children throughout the US and are even still being sold at the nation’s largest pharmacies – including Walgreen’s, CVS, Rite Aid and Wal-Mart. That is exactly why we need your help to remove these unapproved drugs from the shops.

The overwhelming consensus amongst scientists today is that fluoride’s primary benefit to teeth comes from topical application to the outside of the teeth such as from brushing and rinsing and not from ingestion – so there is no need for children to swallow any fluoride, whether in drops, tablet or water. Swallowing fluoride is not only ineffective it is potentially dangerous especially for children. Fluoride is now well recognized as an Endocrine disrupting substance and a neurotoxin. Studies suggest that ingesting fluoride during early childhood may cause learning and behavioral problems, low thyroid function and other potential harm including bone fragility, bone cancer and dental fluorosis.

Dental Fluorosis is a visible mineralization defect of tooth enamel caused by excessive ingestion of fluoride during childhood which can be permanently disfiguring when present on a child’s front teeth. Based on what we now know about fluoride we need to find ways to reduce children’s intake of fluoride not increase it. Removing unapproved infective dangerous fluoride drugs from the market is one obvious way to do that. You can help put an end to this illegal practice by sharing these essential facts with others. One – you don’t need to swallow fluoride in any form, whether in tablets, drops, lozenges or water. Two – ingesting fluoride presents serious health risks particularly for young children. Three – Fluoride supplements are prescription drugs that have never been approved by the FDA. The fluoride action network and the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology have filed a petition with the FDA calling on the agency to take action against all companies selling fluoride supplements. Please sign our petition to tell the FDA that you agree.

I am Dr. Griffin Cole of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. Patients and dentists should make sure that each step of the safe mercury amalgam removal technique or SMART will be applied during a dental appointment for filling removal. The first step is for patients to consult with their dentist before the mercury filling removal begins, so that both the patient and dentist agree that all safety measures will be in place. This helps to ensure that the patient and dentist know exactly what to expect. It is also helpful to watch the following example of the safe mercury amalgam removal technique or SMART being applied. 

Each room where mercury fillings are removed should have adequate filtration in place which requires a high volume air filtration system such as IQ air dental mercury flex vac or a similar device, capable of removing mercury vapor and amalgam particles generated during the removal of one or more mercury fillings. If possible, windows should be open to reduce the mercury concentration in the air.

The patient should be given a slurry of charcoal, chlorella or a similar absorbent to rinse and swallow before the procedure, unless the patient declines or there are other contra indications making this clinically inappropriate. Protective gowns and covers for the dentist, dental personnel and the patient should be in place. All present in the room should be protected because substantial quantities of particles generated during the procedure will elude collection by suction devices. It has been demonstrated that these particles can be spread from the patient’s mouth to the patient’s knee, and to the chest, shoulder and neck of the dentist and dental assistant. Either a properly sealed respiratory grade mask ready to capture mercury or a positive pressure properly sealed masks providing air or oxygen should be worn by the dentist and all dental personnel in the room. Non-latex nitro gloves should be utilized by the dentist and all dental personnel in the room. Face shields and hair head coverings are to be utilized by the dentist and all dental personnel in the room. In order to protect the patient’s skin and clothing, a full body impermeable barrier should be utilized. External air or oxygen delivered via nasal masks for the patient also should be utilized to ensure the patient does not inhale any mercury vapor or amalgam particulate during the procedure. A nasal cannula is an acceptable alternative for this purpose as long as the patient’s nose is completely covered with an impermeable barrier. A saliva ejector should be placed under the dental dam to reduce mercury exposure to the patient. A dental dam that is made with non-latex nitro material should be placed and properly sealed in the patient’s mouth as well as a full head, face and neck barrier that is under and around the dam. During amalgam filling removal – the dentist should utilize an IQ air dental mercury flex vac or a similar device in close proximity to the operating field, that is 2 to 4 inches from the patient’s mouth to mitigate mercury exposure. High speed evacuation produces better capture when fitted with a cleanup device which is preferred. Copious amounts of water to reduce heat and a conventional high speed evacuation device to capture mercury discharges should be used to reduce ambient mercury levels. The amalgam should be sectioned into chunks and removed in as larger pieces as possible, using a small diameter car by drill. Once the removal process is complete, the patient’s mouth should be thoroughly flushed with water and then rinsed out with a slurry of charcoal, chlorella or a similar absorbent.

During the opening and maintainace of suction traps and operatories or on the main suction unit dental staff should utilize the appropriate personal protection equipment described earlier. An amalgam separator should be properly installed, utilized and maintained to collect mercury amalgam waste so that it is not released into the affluent from the dental office. Dentists must comply with federal, state and local regulations, addressing the proper handling, cleaning and or disposal of mercury contaminated components, clothing, equipment, surfaces of the room and flooring in the dental office. I hope that you will make the smart choice about your dental care by asking for safety measures during your mercury filling removal. For more information about the safe mercury amalgam removal technique or SMART, including scientific research about why these safety measures are important, visit thesmartchoice.com on the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.

Dentists in many cities are helping to bring the benefits of fluoridation to children. Now our children can have better health through fluoridated water. They can drink away, tomorrow’s tooth decay. Think fluoride is good for you? Think again – that is old news. I am Dr. Griffin Cole – I am a dentist and a member of the IAOMT and I am here to tell you that a lot has changed since the 1940s when fluoride was first introduced for dental cavities. First of all its use was questioned at that time and before adequate research was conducted, and its safety and effectiveness proven it was added to the water supplies. In the decades that followed it was added to numerous other products that many people use every day.

What this means is that people are repeatedly exposed to fluoride through their water, food and daily routine. Let’s use at the dental products you use at home that contain fluoride. Toothpaste which can result in a higher exposure level if it is accidentally swallowed. Floss and mouthwash. Plus over 66 percent of Americans – fluoride is also in the water supply, and then to add to that you might not even be aware of products at the dental office that can contain fluoride, prophy paste used during teeth cleanings at the dental office. Can contain over 20 times more fluoride than toothpaste sold directly to consumers. As another example – fluoride varnish treatments also contain high concentrations of fluoride. Additional fluoride dangers from exceeding safe exposure levels can come from dental filling materials.

Many of the options contain fluoride, including all glass ionomer cements, all resin modified glass ionomer cements, all giomers, all polyacid-modified composites (also called compomers), certain types of composites, certain types of dental mercury amalgams. Some of these materials continually release fluoride over time and even recharge to intensify that release rate.

Fluoride containing cements are also sometimes used in orthodontic band cements, and a new treatment called silver dining fluoride can permanently stain teeth black, even after a single application. Do you really think you need all this fluoride? You don’t! Fluoride is not essential for human growth and development – in fact, it is not required for any physiological process in the human body. Consequentially no one will suffer from a lack of fluoride but exposure to fluoride can cause dental fluorosis – which the center for disease control has acknowledged its impacting millions of American adults and children.

Fluoride has been scientifically linked to lower IQ’s and developmental neurotoxicity in humans. It has been studied for its effect on nearly every part of the human body and can impact each person differently based on individualized risk factors. So read the labels on your dental products and ask your dentist which items contain fluoride. Protect your health and remember given the elevated number of fluoride sources and the increased rates of fluoride intake in the American population, which have risen substantially since water fluoridation began in the 1940s, it has become a necessity to reduce and work towards eliminating avoidable sources of fluoride exposure, including dental products.