Historical Insights on Fluoride's Benefits

In the early 1900s, a dentist discovered that residents in Colorado Springs had discolored yet decay-resistant teeth, attributed to naturally occurring fluoride in their water supply. This observation sparked decades of research that ultimately supported the idea of adding artificial fluoride to public water supplies, which significantly reduced children's cavity rates by 50 to 70 percent. Despite these public health successes, fluoride's introduction into water has been met with skepticism and conspiracy theories, including false claims of it being a tool for communist sabotage. This historical context emphasizes how initial health benefits were overshadowed by growing apprehensions about safety and long-term health impacts.