Carbon Filters and Fluoridated Water - Why Your Water May Be Too Clean for Your Child

A recent study by the American Dental Association has revealed an alarming fact: children today have significantly more cavities than they did ten years ago. Why? Dental education is excellent. While children still eat lots of sugars, many parents are switching them to sugar-free alternatives. They don't report brushing and flossing any less.

While it's possible that the problem has more to do with habits than dentists think, the prevailing theory is in many ways startling: dentists believe that parents are giving their children water that is too clean for them. Filtered and purified bottled water, while clear of toxins and bacteria, are also clear of fluoride.

The History of Fluoridated Water

In the 1930s, a dentist in Montana noticed that children from the Pikes Peak area had stained and mottled teeth - but that they also had a much lower incidence of cavities than children from other areas. Curious, he started examining their habits, their nutrition, anything that could lead to lowered cavities. For years, he was stumped. Then he discovered that the water in that area was high in cryolite, an ore for fluoride.

After years of study, he published a number of papers in the 1940s demonstrating that adding pure fluoride to the water supply could prevent cavities and help children develop healthy teeth. In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first municipalities in America to try this, participating in a wide-scale study with seven other cities to see which area had the lowest incidence of tooth decay. All fluoridated cities won hands-down, ensuring the future of water fluoridation.

Currently, about two-thirds of Americans get their water from fluoridated sources.

Recent Developments in Fluoridated Water

Within the last decade, filtered water and bottled water have become increasingly popular among American consumers. Filtered water, at least that using a carbon filter, is completely barren of fluoride; the carbon removes virtually all of it.

This, some researchers insist, is not a bad thing. Certain studies link fluoridated water to diseases such as osteoporosis and bone cancer. There are even Nobel prize winners who question whether the benefits of fluoridated water offset the risks.

Still, most American parents seem to think that fluoridated water is better for their kids. Parents who want their kids to have the benefits of fluoride as well as the benefits of purified water should look for brands that fluoridate. Those who use water filters at home may want to consider buying fluoridated water for their children or talking to a dentist about an alternative.