Nutrition & bone health
Key nutrients for bone health — fluoride
by Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD
Through the action of fluoride, bones and teeth become harder, more uniform, and display greater resistance to decay and demineralization. Fluoride is present in small amounts in many foods, and today many if not most public water supplies in the US contain fluoride. There is, however, a great controversy surrounding the use of fluoridated water. One school of thought is that we’ve been brainwashed into thinking we need to fluoridate our drinking water — it’s certainly true that there are many societies that do not engage in this practice, where the people enjoy gorgeous teeth and bones. Excessive fluoride intake, whether from fluoridated water or medication, can weaken our bones. Some studies have suggested that high fluoride intake, including artificial fluoridation in low amounts, can actually increase the risk of osteoporotic fractures. But the data have been mixed, and the controversy regarding fluoride’s linkage to hip fractures and bone cancer continues.
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Our Personal Program is a great place to start
At the Center for Better Bones we promote an all-natural approach to bone regeneration and repair that includes nutrition, diet, exercise, and lifestyle guidance. Our Personal Program is a convenient, at-home version of this approach.
- To assess your fracture risk and the health of your bones, take our free, on-line Fracture Risk and Bone Health Profile.
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- For more information about the at-home program for Better Bones, please call The Personal Program toll-free at 1-877-200-1269.
Original Publication Date: 04/11/2000
Last Modified: 01/26/2009
Principal Author: Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD