Through all of the reading and research I’ve been doing over the last few years about healthy living, two topics that are continuously brought up in the books and articles I’ve read, is that we need to take a serious look at what kind of cookware and food storage containers we’re using in our homes.

Junk the plastic food storage containers and switch to glass food storage; junk the non-stick Teflon cookware and switch to much healthier options like cast iron cookware, my personal favorite. Junk the microwave, or at least stop using the microwave, etc.

Occasionally bringing these topics up with friends and family leads to great in-depth discussion back and forth, with most of the naysayers suddenly becoming very quiet and deep in thought and finally coming to the conclusion that they too want to err on the side of caution and change their cookware and storage containers to much healthier and safer options. If not for themselves specifically, then for the benefit of their young children, grandchildren, or any house guests that come for meals.

My Aha! Moment about Healthy Living

I’ve had quite a few Aha! Moments over the last several years, beginning well before I started reading and researching the “dark side of dentistry”, as some have described fluoride, mercury amalgam fillings, root canals, etc. The Aha! moment, the sudden realization and full comprehension and clarity about a topic that stops you where you’re standing (or sitting), as the fog gradually clears from your mind and suddenly the clear blue skies of Truth are right before your eyes.

My most recent Aha! moment was the culmination of reading many books, watching many “healthy living” documentaries, and listening to several online lecture courses about the enormous toll that chemicals in food, water, and everyday products are having on our bodies and overall health over a lifetime. I don’t consider myself myself to be an environmentalist, a “foodie” etc. I love to learn, and I’ve been bombarding myself with piles and piles of books on many different topics, including what “healthy living” really means in the fullest extent. Because I want to know BOTH sides of the argument, the pro and con sides of many different topics, including what living a healthy lifestyle truly means.

Talking with several people who made the personal decision to dump their “toxic cookware” and plastic food storage containers over to healthier options, well before I ever thought to research or read about these things, helped show me how NOT to react. Some who’ve experienced an Aha! moment about using Teflon or aluminum cookware etc, BPA in plastics and other problems with plastic storage for foods, reacted by literally Freaking Out. They grabbed up all of their pots and pans, all of their storage containers made of plastic, plastic cooking and serving utensils, plastic drinking glasses etc – and hauled it all off to the dump, stopped at a store and bought brand new cast iron cookware sets and glass food storage containers and glass bakeware, all in one day. They literally Freaked Out over it, rather than taking a gradual approach, as I’ve been doing.

I love my cast iron dutch oven that came with a lid, and my two cast iron skillets, one large Lodge brand cast iron skillet and the other slightly smaller skillet is a Wagner brand. If I had not noticed the cast iron cookware pieces I found, bought in different places, I would have and planned to buy this Lodge brand cast iron cookware set. The smaller cast iron skillet (10 inch) I have was found in an Online Garage Sale, and it was in bad shape, dirty and rusted and looking rather gross. I didn’t care at all because I know how to refurbish and bring back the original luster of cast iron, and considering the price was a mere $5.00 compared to buying brand new, I’m not afraid of having to use a bit of elbow grease to clean up and season old cast iron.

Switching from plastic food storage containers to glass food storage is an easy choice. I didn’t have much in the way of plastic storage containers anyway, with many pieces being lost over the years or accidentally melted in the dishwasher. Being a home canner, I’ve got oodles of glass canning jars that I can use for storing and preserving foods or leftovers, but I still wanted a complete set of glass containers with lids to have on hand.

Comparing the brands and prices of buying individual glass food storage, some that include lids and some without, caused me to decide to buy a full, complete set of glass storage with lids included, rather than buying single pieces. We enjoy entertaining guests in our home, so having a large set of storage containers with several pieces in varying sizes, works best for us. This 20-piece Glasslock Snapware set is the one I chose over the smaller sets with only 12 or 18 pieces sold by Pyrex brand. I also wanted some glass food storage with glass lids where you can bake, serve, store and reheat from the same dish, so I’m buying some of these Anchor Hocking glass dish with lid containers in different sizes to add to my much-needed collection.

For me, learning more and more about living the healthiest lifestyle possible is fun and educational, rather than something to “freak out” over. Making gradual adjustments in how we live our lives, reducing as many of the toxic chemicals as possible, replacing toxic substances with much safer and healthier alternatives, just makes sense.

If you think the fluoride controversy is nothing but a “conspiracy theory” being promoted by a bunch of crazy, loony bin type people needing their head examined, then you may want to take it up with Harvard University, the EPA, and a former head of the National Cancer Institute. In fact, you’ll even want to take it up with the United States government as a whole, which has recommended the lowering of fluoride levels following a variety of studies that have linked fluoride to decreased IQ and neurological development.

If you’re one of those who routinely says things like, “You can’t believe anything you read on the internet”, or “take anything found online with a grain of salt”, then you might be surprised to learn that the Harvard University scientists published their conclusion ONLINE in the July 20, 2012 edition of the prominent journal Environmental Health Perspectives, a federal government medical journal stemming from the United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Why don’t dentists and dental hygienists know the truth about fluoride, the tremendous harm done to the human body and a person’s health as fluoride accumulates over time, and begin to inform their patients and the public to stop using fluoridated water, fluoride toothpastes, etc? More and more dentists and doctors ARE doing the research and reading about fluoride, and are speaking out in opposition to fluoride, despite how the American Dental Association continues to do everything possible to get dentists to promote fluoridation – although acknowledging that dentists are not at all informed about the science.

As of March 30, 2013, there are now almost 4400 signatures on “The Professionals Statement” calling for fluoridation to be stopped, including signatures by dentists, hygienists, nurses, medical doctors, pharmacists, and others. Does your doctor or dentist know the truth about fluoride? Do YOU?

Retired dentist, Dr. Susan Rubin DMD, HHC, now a holistic nutritionist and wellness expert, shares her experience of discovering the truth about fluoride:

Deep inside, I’m still a dentist. At the turn of the century, I laid my drill down to embark upon a new career in holistic nutrition and school food advocacy. Before that, I drilled, filled and billed in private practice for over 13 years.

During the 4 long years of dental school, one point was hammered into our skulls: Hal Huggins was a quack! Hal was a Colorado dentist who was anti-fluoride, anti-amalgam and concerned about root canals. When you’re in dental school, much like medical school, you study hard, sleep little and spit out the right answers on the board exams. I’m taking the time to explain this so that you understand why your dentist isn’t up on the latest information about fluoride.

Your dentist did well on those board exams and doesn’t often question what he or she has been taught. The same thing happens in medical school with vaccine questions. Medical and dental schools are highly competitive, high stress environments, you don’t ask questions.

Here’s the theory on how systemic fluoride supposedly works. During the ages of 1-7 when the adult teeth are being formed, a higher level of fluoridated water will build teeth that are more resistant to decay. There is no benefit in drinking fluoridated water before 1 year and beyond 7 years. So, we are fluoridating an entire population for the alleged benefit of those who are ages 1-7. Not very ethical, to medicate an entire population for the supposed benefit of a small number, don’t you think?

The American Dental Association, a big pro-fluoride lobby group, acknowledges that fluoridated water is not recommended for babies ages 0-12 months.

Here’s the real deal on fluoride that your dentist has never taken the time to question.
Fluoridated water has never been proven to actually decrease tooth decay.

Fluoridated water was never approved by the FDA. It was grandfathered in, it was never safety tested for ingestion in human or animal studies.

Fluoride is hazardous to your health. It is a cumulative poison that accumulates in bone over the years. The list of health issues connected to fluoride ingestion is long, visit the Fluoride Action Network to see what I’m talking about.

Like everyone else, in dental school, I didn’t ask questions about fluoride. Later, when I was a dentist in private practice, I was admittedly on the fence about fluoride. It was only when my youngest daughter was born with congenital hypothyroidism that I started to do my own homework on the issue. Based on the research I’ve done, I’m convinced that fluoride in municipal water systems offers no real benefit and is hazardous to our health.

Next step: its time for YOU to do some homework.

Read a book:

• The Fluoride Deception by Christopher Bryson

• The Case Against Fluoride: How Hazardous Waste Ended Up in Our Drinking Water and the Bad Science and Powerful Politics That Keep It There by Dr. Paul Connett

Choose one of these books, read it, fully understand the history and current issues with fluoride. When you’re done, wrap the book up nicely and give it to your dentist with a great big smile.

Remember, he or she went through four years of Hell and hard work to get that dental degree. Now that there are no more board tests to take, he or she can now start to re-think what was taught.

And remember: books, parachutes and minds function best when open.

Dr. Susan Rubin

Thank you Dr. Rubin for sharing your experience with me and my readers, and your personal and professional recommendation of the Berkey Water Purifier.

Readers, I strongly encourage you to read both of the fluoride books Dr. Rubin recommends above.

I also recommend that you CAREFULLY read and seriously consider what was said during the “Fourth Annual Conference of State Dental Directors with The Public Health Service and The Children’s Bureau” in 1951 regarding water fluoridation. It’s in PDF format HERE. Don’t just skim it. READ it, and UNDERSTAND it. Print it and read it all the way through.

Be sure to notice this on Page 1 of the document:

“This is the United States Government documentation of the minutes of a meeting sponsored by the U.S. Public Health Service that master-minded the “Promotion and Application of Water Fluoridation.” These minutes are officially recorded in Volume #5 of Hearings, 89th Congress, Dept. of Labor and Health, Education and Welfare Appropriations for 1967. They are also recorded, Case #8425, Exhibit 108, of Public Utilities Commission of Calif. 1966”

As a dental professional myself, but also as a human being, a mother, grandmother, a person who CARES about people, it is NOT enough that I know the truth about fluoride and does what’s necessary to greatly reduce exposure to fluoride from any and all sources. I must speak out in opposition to fluoride, and so should you.

Dateline NBC, on Sunday March 24th, aired a segment titled “Hormone Disruptors”, where correspondent Andrea Canning embarked on a study of foods and personal care products in her home, to better understand her detectable exposure levels to the chemicals BPA, triclosan and phthalates – known as hormone disruptors. Not only did Andrea have herself tested for detectable levels of these chemicals in her body via urine tests, but she also had her three young children tested as well.

There isn’t much on TV that I care to watch anymore, as I would much rather spend my free time reading books that teach me something of real value, but pure coincidence had me watching Dateline’s show about synthetic hormone disrupting chemicals with Andrea Canning, and I’m glad I did.

In Part 1 of the segment shown HERE, Dr. Emily Rissman of the University of Virginia discussed her studies of how BPA (Bisphenol A) can affect the health of mice, connecting exposures to ADHD. “Research has found an association between some hormone disruptors and a range of potential problems including childhood obesity, autism and infertility.”

Environment Canada’s Rick Smith and Bruce Laurie, authors of “Slow Death by Rubber Duck”, went through Andrea’s home and found BPA, triclosan and phthalates in the products she and her family uses, including plastic toys her young children played with.  Andrea tests her urine levels and finds she has detectable levels of BPA, triclosan and phthalates in her body. When she avoids products that contain hormone disruptors (makeup/cosmetics, perfumes, soaps, toothpastes, canned foods, plastics, etc), her levels of these chemicals drop to almost zero.

The next day, she purposely used personal care products and consumed foods that contain hormone disruptors, and her levels of these chemicals spiked, proving to herself that over a 24-hour period the human body has the ability to rid itself of at least some of the toxic chemicals our bodies are subjected to.

BPA, phthalates and triclosan are found in many consumer products in our homes and workplaces. BPA is still in some food packaging, phthalates are still in PVC and fragrances, and triclosan is still in a host of anti-bacterial products. These chemicals have links to a slew of health problems such as hormone-disruption, fertility problems, asthma and cancer.

In Part 2 shown HERE, Andrea receives the results of urine tests performed on her daughters to measure the levels of hormone disruptors in their systems. All three children have measurable levels of BPA, triclosan and phthalates in their urine.

The levels of triclosan were the most startling. Her youngest daughter, under 1 yr old, had triclosan levels almost 10x higher than the national mean and in her 2 year old daughter, triclosan levels were almost 100x higher than the national mean.

Industry vigorously defends its use of BPA and phthalates, while experts on either side of the debate on hormone disruptors agree that triclosan should be avoided. Of course, chemical industry has a “dog in the hunt”, as any decline in purchases of products with harmful chemicals in them harms their bottom line.

At the end of the segment, Andrea Canning says she has learned that she needs to read labels carefully and shop smarter to avoid unnecessary chemical exposures for her family.

Reducing Toxic Chemical Exposure in the Body

Having spent the last few years researching and reading books about the many chemicals we’re exposed to through our food-buying choices, personal care products that we smear all over our bodies, and the many chemical cleaning products used in our homes, many people are making changes to greatly reduce their exposures to these harmful chemicals.

Consumers can no longer take for granted that organizations like the FDA, EPA etc are doing their jobs to protect the public. They’re not. Industry is protecting themselves and their bottom line. Money and Power.

People take for granted that cosmetics and personal care products are safe to use because they have supposedly been tested. We would like to believe the soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, perfumes and lipsticks that we use everyday are harmless and that we can enjoy them without concern for our health. But there are more than 10,000 cosmetic and personal care products on the market today in the United States and very few have ever been assessed for their safety.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Don’t put it on your skin if you wouldn’t put it in your mouth?”

What if consumers, including you, were to pay very close attention to reading labels and making wise choices to no longer buy or use products that contain harmful chemicals? What if consumers were to stop buying and using chemical-laden home cleaning products, opting instead to use natural or homemade cleaning supplies that have no chemicals in their homes? If you can smell it, you’re inhaling it.

What if consumers were to carefully consider the types of cookware they’re using to cook their foods in, to reduce the cumulative chemical exposure found in various types of cookware that is getting into their foods? After a great deal of time researching and reading, I have very good reasons for getting rid of any Teflon cookware and skillets, and purchasing very good quality Cast Iron Cookware that will last a lifetime and then some.

What if makeup-wearing women were to stop buying and using makeup and perfumes with harmful chemicals in them, that are readily absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream, opting instead to go without makeup at all or choose healthier options? What about “Mineral Makeup”, or homemade makeup? Less is more, right?

Your skin is the largest organ of your body. Anything you put on your skin is readily absorbed by the body. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate these products since they are not foods. When you ingest toxic substances, they are processed through the liver and have a chance of being eliminated from the body, but not all chemical toxins are excreted totally from the body, but actually accumulate in the body over a lifetime and are the cause of cancer and many other debilitating diseases.

Take the time necessary to educate yourself before using cosmetics, sunscreens, shampoos, soaps, body lotions, toothpastes, deodorants or antiperspirants, or any other substances on your body. If not for yourself, then for your children.

McKinney Texas Councilman Ray Ricchi, and many local North Texas residents, want water fluoridation stopped. As readers might imagine, I’ve been paying very close attention to the increasing awareness about “fluoride” in water, and I was very happy to hear that the McKinney City Council is currently reviewing this very important issue.

Local news reporters attended the recent City Council meeting in McKinney, where water fluoridation was on the agenda, and public comment was allowed. Of course, several local dentists were in attendance and spoke about the purported “benefits” of water fluoridation, while many informed residents spoke about the dangers of “fluoride” in water. I use quotes around “fluoride” on purpose, as naturally occurring calcium fluoride is not the issue being discussed locally. But, some news reporters who have covered the fluoridation story, just don’t seem to be able to “get it” quite yet.

Local news reporters continue to use the word “fluoride” in their articles and TV reports, claiming North Texas residents and Councilman Ricchi want naturally occurring (calcium) fluoride to be removed from the public’s water. Wrong. Anyone can look up and read their own city’s water quality report, and read the listed sources of “fluoride” that is added to the public water supply. Have you read yours? What does your town’s Water Quality Report say is the sources of fluoride coming out of your tap? The words, “discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories“, or something quite similar, should grab your attention. That “discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories”, is called Hydrofluorosilic Acid, and it’s added to the water that comes through your tap under the guise of being naturally occurring fluoride. Hydrofluorosilic Acid is NOT fluoride, and it is NOT naturally occurring, and it is NOT beneficial in any way.

Being a dental professional myself, and having spent the last couple/few years educating and informing myself about the science behind water fluoridation and the chemicals used to fluoridate water, by reading scientific and toxicology reports and more scientific books about fluoride than I care to count, being in attendance at the recent McKinney City Council meeting and listening to local dentists promote a process that even the American Dental Association says dentists are virtually clueless about, was quite interesting to watch from the opposite side of the room.

How You Can Help Stop Water Fluoridation in North Texas

It is encouraging to see so many local residents, who have actually taken the time to educate themselves and become fully informed about what “fluoride” really is, where “fluoride” comes from, and take a stand to end water fluoridation in North Texas.

***Please Sign the Online Petition to End Water Fluoridation***

Whether or not you personally live in North Texas, you can help spread awareness about Hydrofluorosilic Acid in water (so-called “fluoride”), by Liking and Sharing the local North Texas Fluoride Action Facebook pages that have been started to help put a stop to water fluoridation in North Texas. All 13 member cities that the North Texas Municipal Water Department fluoridates have their own individual Fluoride Action fanpages, including several non-member cities who receive their water from the member cities, are included in the current effort to stop fluoridation locally.

Member cities are: Frisco, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite, Plano, Princeton, Richardson, Rockwall, Royse City, Wylie, Allen, Farmersville and Forney Texas.

Water customers who receive their fluoridated water from member cities are: Ables Springs, Bonham, Caddo Basin, Cash, College Mound, Copeville, Crandall, East Fork, Fairview, Fate, Forney Lake, Gastonia-Scurry, Greater Texoma Utility Authority (GTUA), Josephine, Kaufman, Lavon, Little Elm, Lucas, Melissa, Milligan, Mount Zion, Murphy, Nevada, North Collin, Parker, Prosper, Rose Hill, Rowlett, Sachse, Seis Lagos, Sunnyvale, and Terrell.

I encourage you to Like and Share Fluoride Action Facebook Pages in support of their efforts.

Browsing around on Pinterest for what my next beginner sewing project would be, I happened upon a (confusing) tutorial of how to make long silk fashion scarves. Silk scarves huh? Immediate skepticism set in as to whether or not a sewing beginner like me could make a fashion scarf that actually looked good and didn’t have that “homemade” look stamped all over it.

I’ve never sewn silk fabric before, with its sleek and luscious goodness I love so much, so the idea of making my own silk anything made me somewhat nervous. But I decided that if I’m ever going to learn how to sew a variety of crafts, kids and adults clothes, bags, totes and various accessories, I needed to jump right in and get my feet wet so to speak.

While shopping for cotton print fabric to make some kid size pajama bottoms for an upcoming birthday, I spotted a bolt of multi-colored silk material that was calling my name saying “Buy Me, I’ll make a beautiful long silk scarf!” I loved the mixture of colors in the fabric so much that I couldn’t just buy enough material to make a fashion scarf, so I bought four whole yards of this silk material, knowing there will be something I’ll decide to make with the remaining material after the scarf is finished.

How to Make a Long Silk Fashion Scarf

Honestly, fashion scarves are made with many different kinds of fabrics, including t-shirt material, satin, chiffon etc. Silk and chiffon fabrics are quite popular for making scarves, whether it’s a long or square scarf. Any lightweight, soft fabric will do nicely and spice up your outfit quite well. It’s really up to you what fabric to use.

Searching online for what the standard size of long fashion scarves is, the measurements given were 24 inches in width (2 feet) and 72 inches length (6 feet), but you can make a scarf any length and width you choose. My completed and hemmed silk scarf measures 24×70 inches, which is perfect for me to tie the scarf in a variety of ways or just wrap around my neck and allow to drape freely.

Silk fabric cut to 25 x 71 inches approximately.

Make sure you have a good pair of sharp scissors for cutting the fabric to the width and length you want. I have two pair of sewing scissors in different sizes that are kept hidden away, so they’re not used for anything else but cutting fabrics. Cut your fabric material very carefully, using a long ruler or yardstick if necessary to guide you. I used my rotary cutter and self-healing cutting mat, which sure makes it faster and easier to cut fabric evenly, and without the potential of damaging anything beneath the fabric.

Some scarf-making instructions suggest using fabric glue to help keep the hem in place while stitching, but I opted out of that idea. Using an iron on a very low setting, fold down one edge of the fabric to about 1/8 or 1/4 an inch and press with the iron. Make sure your iron is not too hot because you’ll ruin the silk material. Once you’ve folded down and pressed the fabric on all four sides of the material, fold the same edges down one more time and press with your iron, creating a double-fold. Why double fold the material? It keeps the fabric from unraveling and it also gives the scarf a nice professional looking finish, much like you find when you buy a scarf in a store. Remember, you don’t want a silk scarf that screams HOMEMADE SCARF to anyone seeing the finished product.

To sew the hem of the scarf, you can either use your sewing machine or sew it by hand. If you’re going to sew the hem of a silk or chiffon scarf with a sewing machine, make sure you’re using a VERY fine sewing needle, otherwise you risk damaging the material. Silk and chiffon can be difficult fabrics to sew on, especially for a sewing beginner (like me), so I highly recommend pinning the very thin and narrow hem in place before beginning to sew along the folded edges of the material to create a hem. Once you’ve sewn the hem on all four sides, gently and carefully (on a low setting), iron your brand new silk scarf and you’re done!

I’ve already made two silk scarves, one very long scarf and one only 10 inches wide by about 40 inches in length, because I wanted to decide for myself if machine hemming is better than hand stitching when making scarves. My sewing machine has lots of cool built-in stitching options to help hide the stitches, and sewing a straight line of stitches isn’t very hard as long as you don’t press too hard on the foot pedal. One silk scarf I hemmed with the sewing machine, and the other scarf I sewed by hand. Hemming scarves with a sewing machine is of course much faster than hand sewing, hand sewing can take HOURS and HOURS when making long scarves, so I’ll definitely opt for machine sewing scarves most of the time.

How to Make Easy Pajama Bottoms or Pants for Kids

Making adult-size pajama bottoms without buying a pattern, from fleece or cotton fabrics etc has proven to be quite easy. However, I needed to find a quick and easy pattern for making pajama pants in various kid sizes, in order to make some “PJ” bottoms as a birthday gift.

Easy Kids Pajama Bottoms with Free Printable Pattern

Luckily, I didn’t have to go buy a pattern for making kids pajama bottoms because FleeceFun.com has FREE printable patterns and instructions for kids pajama pants and other craft projects, sewing and non-sewing. Included with the printable/downloadable patterns are instructions for assembling the printed patterns, as well as easy-to-follow directions (with pictures) of how to make kids pajama pants.

I made one pair of kids pajama pants using the instructions from FleeceFun, but I much prefer making pajama bottoms using the one-seam pajama pants tutorial offered by The Ribbon Retreat Blog. To me, the one-seam method is faster and easier than the other. I’m not a fan of cuffs on pajama pants, so I didn’t do that part of the instructions.

Easy One Seam Pajama Pants for Kids (and Adults too!)

I assembled the pattern from FleeceFun as directed, taping the individual pages together to make the full pattern, then cut off the excess paper surrounding the actual pattern. Then I folded the pattern in half, shown in the picture above, and pinned the pattern to the folded-in-half-lengthwise cotton fabric I chose along the fold as shown. Cut the fabric through both layers of fabric, then remove pattern and pins and lay that cut piece of fabric aside. Place the folded pattern along the folded edge of fabric one more time, pin together, then cut out your second piece of fabric.

Easy Peasy Kids Pajama Pants

Laying right side to right side of your fabric pieces together (as shown above), pin the two layers together. Now hop on over to the pajama pants tutorial on the Ribbon Retreat blog to see the pictures and instructions of what seams to sew first, second etc, adding a cuff if you want cuffed PJ bottoms, creating the elastic waist casing, and how to close up the seams after the elastic has been added, and you’re all done! Easy-peasy DIY pajama bottoms or pants for kids and adults. Fun!

A lengthy article about water fluoridation in the January 1, 2013 issue of the Journal of American Dental Association (JADA) magazine caught my attention. The article is entitled “The Dentist’s Role in Promoting Community Water Fluoridation – A Call to Action for Dentists and Educators”, written by authors Molly L.R. Melbye, DDS and Jason M. Armfield, PhD.

This post is directed towards dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, office managers, and dental patients. Call it “An Open Letter to All Dentists, Dental Hygienists and Staff”, if you will. As dental professionals, we owe it to patients to provide them accurate and informative advice about their health, specifically in regards to oral health. But, we also advise dental patients about the overall health effects of smoking, tobacco use, cutting down their consumption of sugars etc, do we not?

Dental patients hire a dentist to care for their oral health needs. We, as dental professionals, work for the patients. Patients do not work for us. Dentists and hygienists, once hired by patients, are expected [assumed] to be well educated and knowledgeable about matters relating to oral health, dental care, necessary treatment options and so on, in order to provide optimal care for those who have placed their faith and trust in our abilities to care for their needs. Right?

The JADA article mentioned above is strongly urging dentists to become active in promoting water fluoridation to their patients, and becoming politically active in their communities in support of water fluoridation at various types of dental meetings, forming advocacy groups, etc. Dentists are urged to talk to patients about water fluoridation, and to display promotional pamphlets about fluoridation in their offices, right along with all of the other types of dental pamphlets commonly found in dental offices. Dentists are to also involve their staff, including dental hygienists, in promoting water fluoridation to patients and also participate in political events within their local communities in support of the practice of fluoridating community water supplies.

The dental journal says dentists are NOT knowledgeable, and are actually quite ignorant, about the science behind fluoridation. Dentists, hygienists and office staff, are you virtually clueless about water fluoridation and the science behind the practice? The journal article suggests that you are likely not well educated nor informed, and are not at all well-equipped to deal with patient questions and responses about water fluoridation.

To compensate for dentists inadequate understanding of fluoride science, the article encourages dentists to use “political campaigns” and their “reputation with the public” to promote and endorse fluoridation, saying, “Advocacy through dental societies, such as participation in lobbying efforts, also may be an effective way for dentists to promote water fluoridation.”

Dentists, if you rely on your public reputation or prestige in the community to promote fluoridation without first becoming fully informed of the scientific facts yourself, then what is your reputation really worth anyway?

In a 1979 White paper, the ADA’s Council on Dental Health and Health Planning issued this unprofessional and insulting advice:

“Individual dentists must be convinced that they need not be familiar with scientific reports and field investigations on fluoridation to be effective participants and that non- participation is overt neglect of professional responsibility.”

Really?! Excuse me?! As dental professionals, entrusted by dental patients to care for their needs, it is inexcusable and professionally irresponsible for dentists in particular NOT to be familiar and completely convinced of the safety and efficacy of everything related to the profession! The JADA article even includes an 11-point message box image of exactly what (unwitting, unfamiliar with all the scientific facts about fluoride, ignorant and virtually clueless) dentists should tell patients about water fluoridation. You know, because it’s just easier and less time-consuming for dentists to let others tell them what to think, say and do, rather than dentists proving to themselves the truth and facts through individual and independent study and research. Not to mention common sense.

Dentists and Hygienists: Are you aware of the fact that there have been 36 published scientific studies since 1991 that “found an association between fairly modest exposure to fluoride and lowered IQ. In one of the studies (Ding et al., 2011), the researchers found IQ lowered in children drinking water ranging from 0.3 to 3 ppm, and that the higher the level of fluoride in the urine (a measure of fluoride exposure) the lower the IQ. In addition, Harvard researchers in a systematic review of 27 of these IQ studies concluded that effect on children’s developing brains should be a ‘high research priority’ especially in the US which has never investigated brain/fluoride effects.”

An expert panel of scientists reviewed fluoride’s toxicology for the National Research Council (NRC) and released a landmark report in 2006 entitled “Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards“. The panel found that the maximum contaminant level for fluoride permitted in drinking water is NOT protective of human health and that infants, children, and several other subsets of the U.S. population are being over-exposed. The panel noted the following adverse effects from this overexposure: broken bones, pre-clinical skeletal fluorosis which manifests as arthritic-type pain, and severe dental fluorosis.

Dentists/Hygienists: If you have not taken the time needed to diligently and fully research and educate yourselves on the scientific and factual details about the “pros and cons” of fluoride in water, what right do you have to endorse and/or promote the practice to your patients when you know not of what you speak?

Patients: Your personal dentist, that you have hired to care for your dental needs, may likely begin talking about and promoting water fluoridation during your dental appointments. Since dentists and hygienists are largely unprepared and not at all knowledgeable about the science behind water fluoridation, you must be.

Remember, your dentist works for you, you hired your dentist with the expectation and trust that he/she knows what’s best for your oral needs, and that of your children and family. Is that expectation and trust well placed, when the Dental Association article in JADA clearly states that dentists know next to nothing about the science of fluoridation but urges them to promote the practice anyway?

Questions About Fluoride and Fluoridated Water

Dentists, hygienists, PATIENTS, parents, dental office staff members, below are some questions about fluoride in water that each and every one of you should know the full, accurate, honest and truthful answers to. If you dental professionals are truly deserving of your patient’s faith and trust, then you will make sure to PROVE to yourselves what water fluoridation is and consists of, by fully examining the science behind the long held practice.

Dentist Caree Alexander, a former Navy practitioner who also had a private dental practice for 20 years, in the documentary FIRE WATER: Australia’s Industrial Fluoridation Disgrace, says “When I graduated from University, we weren’t given any information about where [fluoride] came from, we all assumed it was [pharmaceutical-grade] calcium fluoride.”

“Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thess. 5:21-22). Examine everything. Examine everything means to test everything to see that it is genuine and true, to discover for ourselves between what is true and false, rather than simply parroting what we’ve been taught to believe.

Prove. It. To. Yourself. Critical Thinking 101!

If patients, parents, dentists and dental staff know and fully understand the truthful answers to these 15 questions about water fluoridation, then and only then can meaningful discussion be had as to whether dental professionals endorsing and promoting water fluoridation is a good idea or not.

• What do you really know about water fluoridation?

• Where does the fluoride come from that is used in fluoridating community water supplies?

• Is the fluoride pharmaceutical grade or are there other substances in the compound, and if so, where do I find an official list of these?

• How many kinds of fluoride are there?

• How many are naturally occurring fluorides, and how many are manmade?

• Why is there a poison warning on the back of fluoride toothpaste tubes?

• How do you define “safe” in regards to fluoride in water, or fluoride toothpaste?

• How much fluoride is too much fluoride for an infant, toddler, teen or adult?

• How does fluoride affect a person internally, their brain and organs, not just their teeth?

• What is the optimum daily dose of fluoridated water, in order to ensure too much is not consumed?

• Where can I find a complete list of fluoride sources and amounts in toothpaste, food and beverages, water, dentifrices etc, to determine the total exposure to fluoride?

• Why are parents recommended to NOT use fluoridated water when mixing powdered baby formulas?

• Where do I find published scientific reports proving that teeth in fluoridated communities really are better than teeth in unfluoridated areas?

• Why does the EPA say fluoride is a “chemical with substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity”?

• What does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say about fluoride?

Dental patients, whether or not your personal dentist or hygienist talks to you directly or to a family member about water fluoridation being a good thing or a bad thing, you are responsible for your own health and your young children’s health – so prove to yourselves what the facts are.