[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I hate the taste of fluoridated water.

Is it that it's fluoridated or that it's had chlorine put in it or that it's just passing through crappy public water system/pipes? How do you know what fluoride tastes like?

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I think the need for fluoride is passed. I think as a society we have progressed to the point where most kids are taught to brush their teeth. I don’t think my mother or grandmother ever brushed their teeth in their lives. I was only taught how when I got to school. Appalachians like my family live off of wells anyway so it isn’t doing them any good. I’m not against fluoride, I just think it has moved passed it’s usefulness.

fluoride bonds into the enamel of teeth VERY quickly, and makes the enamel MUCH harder than it is by itself. I think that's probably very useful, especially today since darn near everything that we eat has tons of sugar/sweeteners in it. Sodas, coffee-drinks, energy drinks, etc... are probably all horrible for teeth.

I tihnk I've read somewhere that back in the day (I can't remember if it's 100 years ago or 70 or ...) most folks on average ate the equivalent of 2# of sugar per year, but that these days, that number has gone up to something ridiculous like 25#. (I can't remember the exact numbers).

I'm sure that dental health has probably improved over all, but I don't think that we're suddenly immune to cavities.