[artvandelai]

Adding fluoride to water was revolutionary in the 1940s, but its benefits have significantly declined since fluoride toothpaste became common in the 1970s. While fluoridation made sense when products containing fluoride weren't widely available, it is much less effective and necessary now. Sure, some countries and communities may still see benefits from it, but widespread fluoridation doesn't seem necessary in many parts of the world.

[Perenti]

Not true. Every time I see a dentist here in Queensland (non-fluoridated water) he asks me where else I lived as my teeth are so much better than what he usually sees, and if drilling my teeth are much harder than most Queenslanders.

My early years were spent in Melbourne, where fluoridation was introduced around 1970. That's the only time I lived with fluoridated water, for about 3 years. yet dentists can see the effects 50+ years later.

I don't use a toothbrush or toothpaste, and haven't ever really, as my ASD makes it unbearable.

[j_maffe]

You're refuting a statment based on studies and statistics by anecdotal evedince. Also, GP never denied that flouridation is still helpful for non-brushing residents.

[pclmulqdq]

> I don't use a toothbrush or toothpaste, and haven't ever really, as my ASD makes it unbearable.

99% of the world does brush their teeth, so I don't see how this is relevant to their health.

[FollowingTheDao]

Black Tea has an astounding amount of fluoride. You dentist is stupid for only asking where you live and not what you eat and drink.

[mimentum]

As a recent QLD convert thanks for this. I had been wondering why the water up here was so hard.

[ViscountPenguin]

Are you in FNQ? Around Brissie and the Goldie we're all flouridated.

I've heard similar rumours about army recruitment in the 80s though.

[estebank]

There's a huge difference between "no longer as necessary" and "let's ban it".

[theteapot]

There is difference between banning and just deciding putting fluoride in public drinking water too. Who are they banning? Themselves?

[arghwhat]

Not really when it comes to government initiatives. They'd like the water plants to stop adding fluoride, so they make a policy that the plants should not add fluoride.

[emmelaich]

Yeah but anyone can buy fluoride toothpaste so not really banned.

[ekianjo]

You can add fluoride in your own water if you want to. Nobody is preventing your own freedom to drink fluoride.

[Avshalom]

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cdoe.12685

[hedora]

It’s still necessary. It is crucial when kids teeth are forming, and brushing does not achieve the same effect.

I find the lack of science in this thread disturbing.

[rcpt]

Kids really suck at brushing their teeth