Fluoridation is an ongoing source of controversy. Although there are benefits of water fluoridation for certain populations, there are also drawbacks. Fluoride is most beneficial to children. It helps young bones retain calcium, strengthens teeth, and has been shown to reduce childhood instances of tooth decay by nearly 50 percent.

Public water systems in some parts of the United States are adding fluoride to their drinking water. Cities that generally have less than 1ppm (part per million) of naturally occurring fluoride in their groundwater source are having their drinking water systems fluoridated as a matter of public health.

The possible harmful effects of fluoride have made this practice a matter of public outcry. Some of the claims about the detrimental effects of fluoride include:

-possible carcinogen in higher levels
-overexposure can cause bones to weaken
-toxicity resulting from excessive use

There is evidence that overuse of fluoride, especially in toothpastes and drinking water, can cause the teeth to become mottled and weak. The purported claims of toxicity are also valid. Fluorosis is a condition that results from a person consuming more than 20mg of fluoride on a daily basis for a long period of time. However, this is an exceptionally rare occurrence and is only likely to happen as the result of a diet rich in foods containing high fluoride content.

Currently there is no scientific evidence that supports the claim that fluoridation leads to cancer. Many countries, not just the United States, have investigated whether fluoridation can cause an increase in cancer risk.

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