The study on how fluoride helps prevent tooth decay was done on calcium fluoride (CaF2), which is the most commonly naturally occurring fluoride, not sodium fluoride (NaF) or hydrofluorosilicic acid, so that's not even the same compound. The reason they use sodium fluoride instead of calcium fluoride in drinking water is because of it's higher solubility and calcium causes hard water and corrosion in pipes. Calcium fluoride is actually a whole lot safer.
@cherokeepatti Alcoa who funded the studies, need to get rid of their toxic waste. Sodium fluoride is what comes out of the "wet scrubbers" while mining aluminum. Added note" aluminum crosses the blood/brain barrier which is why Alzheimer's is more prevalent these days and is affecting younger.
@curiosi I just learned something about a city in Morocco that I visited. It has a high amount of phosphorus mines there and also a high level of natural fluoride in the water. So much so that it’s fairly common for residents to have very mottled teeth & aching joints. I figured there might be a correlation between phosphorus mining and the high levels of fluoride in their ground water. Turns out after reading a short study in an online article there is and it comes from the wastewater that is disposed of in disposal canal after black phosphorus mining, it is getting into the well water. Fluoride is also in the wastewater disposed of
@curiosi Exactly, it allowed Alcoa to cut the cost of disposing their waste and at the same time, make a little profit. Toothpaste companies get it for cheap; calcium fluoride is actually way more expensive to synthesize.
@TheArbitrator how much is way more expensive? Cause it would only take a bit of it, not a whole lot. A little would go a long way without damaging health in any way. Another way would be to drink black tea, it’s got enough fluoride in one cup a day to do the job.
@cherokeepatti Right, with all the fluoride in a cup of tea, I don't see the need to add it to toothpaste. Most kids are getting enough anyway. On top of that, they're brushing their teeth 2 or 3 times per day. Buying expensive toothpaste isn't worth it anyway. My teeth are just as white and I use baking soda.
I don't know but I imagine even if they are saving a fraction of a penny on 1 mg of fluoride, that cost adds up to millions considering the large amounts of toothpaste being produced each year. It probably wouldn't be an issue if these companies weren't greedy money pinchers. And when the competition is doing it and getting away with it, saving money, you either do it or try to set an example.
