Colorado Brown Stain

 

Colorado Brown Stain

 

It was 1930 and Doctor Frederick McKay, a dentist in Colorado Springs Colorado, was troubled because so many of his patients were complaining  about brown-staining on their teeth that could not be explained by diet or their use of a dentifrice. Patients at other dental practices he came to learn experienced the same stains he called Colorado Brown Stain. Dr. McKay contacted the U.S. Public Health Service and joined in a collaborative investigation with Dr. H. Trendley who was Dean of this government agency to try and discover the cause.

Dr. McKay, Dr. Trendley and a  team of researchers suspected that the common denominator in this instance might have something to do with water. Dr. Dean and his team conducted extensive studies in various communities across the United States to understand the relationship between water quality and dental health. They discovered that the stained teeth were a result of excessive fluoride in the water, but they also learned that  those with “Colorado Brown Stain” were less prone to have cavities. Their findings were groundbreaking and suggested a link between fluoride and dental health.

In 1945, based on the promising data from these early studies, the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first in the world to adjust the fluoride content of its municipal water supply to the optimal level of one part per million. This decision marked the beginning of one of the most significant public health experiments in history. The results were remarkable: within just a few years, the rate of dental caries (cavities) among children in Grand Rapids dropped by over 60%.

Following the success in Grand Rapids, additional studies were conducted in other cities, and comparable results were observed. By the 1950s, the evidence was overwhelming that fluoride, when added to drinking water at appropriate levels, significantly reduced the incidence of tooth decay. This led to the widespread adoption of water fluoridation across the United States and many other countries – although not all. (See Meme)

World War II also indirectly contributed to another significant advancement  in dental health: Adding fluoride to toothpaste. During the war, extensive research was conducted on the health of soldiers and civilians, leading to better understanding of various health issues, including dental health. The connection between fluoride and the prevention of tooth decay was further solidified during this period, paving the way for the introduction of fluoride toothpaste in the post-war era.

 

 In 1955, Procter & Gamble introduced Crest, the first fluoride toothpaste, which was shown in clinical trials to be effective in reducing cavities. The American Dental Association endorsed Crest in 1960, further cementing fluoride's role in dental care.

 

The discovery and implementation of fluoride in dental care has had a profound impact on public health, significantly reducing the prevalence of dental cavities and improving oral health for millions of people worldwide. All this because an inquisitive dentist persisted in trying to help patients with a cosmetically unappealing  dental discoloration.

 

Dr. McKay received widespread  accolades from dental and public health organizations in the U.S.  for his groundbreaking work and he was honored by the American Dental Association and other professional bodies for his contributions to dental science and public health. When fluoride levels are maintained at the recommended concentration (0.7 parts per million in the U.S.), it is considered safe and effective for preventing tooth decay.

Extensive research over decades has not found credible evidence linking fluoridation at recommended levels to serious health problems. Still, questions  about potential links to other health issues (e.g., neurological effects, thyroid problems) have recently been raised, although research in these areas is not conclusive. And critics rightfully argue that water fluoridation removes individual choice, effectively medicating entire populations without consent. They advocate alternative methods, like topical fluoride applications, to give individuals more control.

But it is certainly apparent  we are receiving more fluoride than we did fifty years ago and maybe we are getting too much of a “good thing.”  We need to refine our understanding of the balance between benefits and risks and examine and monitor the long-term effects of products and substances like fluoride claimed to be safe – to be sure they really are.

 

Throughout history, many products initially believed to be safe and beneficial were later found to pose significant health risks. For example, talcum powder, widely used for personal hygiene and baby care, was marketed as harmless but has since been linked to ovarian cancer. Similarly, asbestos, once hailed for its fireproofing and insulation properties, was later discovered to cause severe respiratory diseases, including mesothelioma. Products like lead-based paint and leaded gasoline were praised for their durability and efficiency, only to reveal toxic effects, particularly in children and the environment. Remember  trans fats ?  Once promoted as a healthy alternative to saturated fats, they are now banned because what they really promote is heart disease. Even seemingly innocuous innovations, like BPA used in water bottles and other consumer products, turned out to have harmful consequences. 

 

 

Meme:

Norway, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, the Netherlands, and France all refrain from water fluoridation, choosing alternative methods to promote dental health.