Too much of a good thing? Excess fluoride in water supply causes dental problems

For the first time in nearly 50 years, the government is recommending lowering the fluoride in drinking water. Officials say many Americans are getting too much fluoride and it's causing some kids to have "splotchy" teeth. The AP's Kelly Daschle reports.

The US health department is recommending that water supplies contain 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water, replacing the current recommended range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams.

Learn how much fluoride is in your tap water. Call your local water municipality because the level varies from city to city. If it's above 0.7 milligrams per liter, you could consider filtering your water.

References:
U.S. Wants to Reduce Fluoride in Drinking Water. WebMD.

Invasive dental treatment associated with increased risk for stroke and myocardial infarction

Treatment of periodontal disease may reduce cardiovascular risk in the longer term, but studies have suggested a link among dental procedures, acute inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction.

This study included persons exposed to invasive dental treatment with a primary hospital discharge diagnosis of ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction from 2002 to 2006.

The rate of vascular events significantly increased in the first 4 weeks after invasive dental treatment (incidence ratio, 1.50) and gradually returned to the baseline rate within 6 months.

Invasive dental treatment may be associated with a transient increase in the risk for vascular events. However, the absolute risks are minimal, and the long-term benefits on vascular health will probably outweigh the short-lived adverse effects.

References:

Invasive Dental Treatment and Risk for Vascular Events: A Self-Controlled Case Series. October 19, 2010, vol. 153 no. 8 499-506.

Image source: Cross-section of a tooth with visible gums, or gingiva, Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.