> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Fluoridation Useless for Low-Income Children, Federal Data Shows - URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/fluoridation_0903160738/ - Published: 2016-09-03T08:37:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-22T16:10:50.000Z - Description: The New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation reads 2011/2012 NHANES data as showing decay rising among children in poverty, reaching 74 percent at ages 13 to 15, while 58 percent of children aged 6 to 19 show dental fluorosis. It argues poor children need dental care, not fluoride. - Author: Food Consumer - Tags: Chemical, Food Safety, #vivvo-import New York – Sept 1, 2016 -- CDC 2011/2012 statistics reveal low-income children’s tooth decay rates are increasing substantially - despite record numbers of children served [fluoride from water](http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/march/fluoridation-flourishes-new-cdc-stats-say?ref=foodconsumer.org),[foods](http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=6312&ref=foodconsumer.org), [dental products](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3075459/?ref=foodconsumer.org) and [medicines](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781444312096.oth1/pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org) causing an overall alarming surge in fluoride-overdose symptoms – dental fluorosis(discolored teeth), reports the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. (NYSCOF) Fluoridation is the unnecessary addition of [arsenic- and lead-laced fluoride chemicals ](http://www.nsf.org/newsroom%5Fpdf/NSF%5FFact%5FSheet%5Fon%5FFluoridation.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org)into public water supplies, being pursued by the [NYS Dep't of Health](https://www.health.ny.gov/funding/?ref=foodconsumer.org), and other states ostensibly to protect poor children's teeth. But it seems to do more harm than good. Decay rates for children, living 100% below the [Federal Poverty Level](http://obamacarefacts.com/federal-poverty-level/?ref=foodconsumer.org), are 40% in three- to five-year-olds; 69% in six- to nine-year-olds; and 74% in 13-15 year-olds, based on Federal data (2011/2012 NHANES) to be presented at an [American Public Health Association Meeting 11/2/16](https://apha.confex.com/apha/144am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/359366?ref=foodconsumer.org)). Previous cavity rates ([NHANES III](http://www.people.vcu.edu/~albest/DENS580/pdfs/Vargas1998NHANES.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org) 1988-1994) for similar children’s primary teeth were much lower - 30% of 2-5 year-olds; 42% of 6-12 year-olds and 34% of 15-18 year-olds’ permanent teeth. “Claims that poor children need fluoride are without merit or evidence,” says attorney Paul Beeber, NYSCOF President. “It’s the dental care delivery system that needs fixing. [Low-income Americans need dental care not fluoride](http://www.dentalproductsreport.com/dental/article/addressing-gap-dental-delivery-care-all-americans?ref=foodconsumer.org).” In fact, [dental Expenses were a leading contributor to Medical Debt in 2012](http://www.demos.org/publication/enough-make-you-sick-burden-medical-debt?ref=foodconsumer.org) Along with [low-income children’s rampant cavities](http://www.jyi.org/issue/review-early-childhood-caries-risk-and-prevention-in-underserved-populations/?ref=foodconsumer.org), all children’s dental fluorosis rates surged, [according to CDC’s 2011-2012 NHANES survey](https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/about%5Fntp/bsc/2015/december/publiccomm/connett20151130%5F508.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org). Fifty-eight percent of all children (6-19 year olds) now have fluorosis, with a staggering 21% of children displaying [moderate fluorosis](http://www.waterloowatch.com/Index%5Ffiles/Dental%20Fluorosis%20Page.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org) on at least two teeth. Black children are [most afflicted](http://fluoridealert.org/studies/dental%5Ffluorosis02/?ref=foodconsumer.org). “Fluorosis is the outward sign of [fluoride toxicity](http://www.orissabigyanacademy.nic.in/pdf/June%5F2016%5FScience%5FHorizon.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org#page=33),” says Beeber. [Dr. Hardy Limeback, PhD, and fluoride expert ](http://cof-cof.ca/2012/09/dr-hardy-limeback-bsc-phd-biochemistry-dds-dental-fluorosis-permanent-tooth-scarring-caused-by-fluoridation/?ref=foodconsumer.org)says fluorosis is permanent scarring of the teeth just like acne can permanently scar facial skin. “By focusing on fluoridation and more modes of fluoride administration instead of diet and dentist-access, organized dentistry allowed a [national dental health crisis](http://www.sanders.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/DENTALCRISIS.REPORT.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org) to occur on its watch and created a new one – dental fluorosis,” says dentist David Kennedy, past-president of IAOMT ([International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology](https://iaomt.org/?ref=foodconsumer.org)). “It’s reckless to allow organized dentistry to vouch for fluoride safety. Adverse health effects, outside of the oral cavity from ingested fluoride, are not within the purview of dentistry, [according to the California Board of Dental Examiners](http://www.nofluoride.com/cal%5Fdental%5Fexaminers.cfm?ref=foodconsumer.org).” Claims that stopping fluoridation would raise tooth decay rates are disproved by several [studies](https://groups.google.com/forum/?ref=foodconsumer.org#!searchin/fluoridation-news-releases/tiel/fluoridation-news-releases/FlALrDzUIPk/3gYwRUwMubAJ). Also, Poughkeepsie NY[stopped fluoridation in 2008](http://www.townofpoughkeepsie.com/water/2013%5FAnnual%5FWater%5FQuality%5FReport.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org). Third-graders cavity rates declined steadily – 61% in 2013; 51% in June 2014; 45% in October 2014; and 31% in 2015, [according to NYU researchers](https://apha.confex.com/apha/144am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/358869?ref=foodconsumer.org). In contrast, in 80% fluoridated Collier County, FL, 3rd graders tooth decay “were among the highest levels documented in theUnited States,” according to University of Florida researchers’ presentation at the [American Academy](http://www.eventscribe.com/2014/posters/aapd/SplitViewer.asp?PID=NTc0NTEyOTYx;&ref=foodconsumer.org)[ of Pediatric Dentistry’s May 2014 annual meeting](http://www.eventscribe.com/2014/posters/aapd/SplitViewer.asp?PID=NTc0NTEyOTYx;&ref=foodconsumer.org). Research shows fluoride ingestion is more likely to cause fluorosis than prevent a cavity, according to [Fluoride Action Network](http://fluoridealert.org/articles/fluorosis%5Fvs%5Fcaries/?ref=foodconsumer.org) Tooth decay crises are occurring in [all fluoridated cities, states and countries](http://www.fluoridenews.blogspot.com/?ref=foodconsumer.org). Sugar is the main culprit in tooth decay but "Even the low level of sugar consumption was related to dental caries, despite the use of fluoride," report researchers in the [*Journal of Dental Research*](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26758380?ref=foodconsumer.org) Sugars are the only cause of tooth decay, according to [BMC Public Health](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0914/160914-Experts-call-for-radical-rethink-on-free-sugars-intake?ref=foodconsumer.org). Further, there is [no evidence that consuming a fluoride-free diet causes tooth decay](http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/13/water-fluoridation-dental-health.aspx?ref=foodconsumer.org). Dentists skepticism of fluoride's safety is revealed in several documents garnered via freedom of information requests. See:[https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/08/31/18790639.php](https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/08/31/18790639.php?ref=foodconsumer.org) SOURCE: New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. (NYSCOF) [Fluoride Action Network](http://www.fluorideaction.net/issues/health?ref=foodconsumer.org) [NYSCOF News Releases](http://www.prnewswire.com/news/nys-coalition-opposed-to-fluoridation?ref=foodconsumer.org) [Fluoride Dangers](http://www.fluoridedangers.blogspot.com/?ref=foodconsumer.org) [NYC Coalition Against Artificial Fluoridation](https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Geek-Against-Fluoride/464167197068033) [NYSCOF on Twitter](http://www.twitter.com/nyscof?ref=foodconsumer.org) [NYSCOF on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-State-Coalition-Opposed-to-Fluoridation-Inc/252199261811?ref=mf)