Eliminate this chemical from your mouth

I’m Brandon Wilson. I am constantly working toward improving my mind, body, and spirit using various ancient techniques and cutting-edge biohacking tools and devices. I want to be healthy, but not at the expense of being happy. This simple idea is what it means to be wellthy.

First time reading? Let’s get you in the club.

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Over the weekend, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. posted this tweet on X:

I realize that RFK Jr is a polarizing figure. Some people write him off as a crackpot anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorist, and others herald him as a hero and think his voice should replace the narration of all audiobooks. Instead of focusing on the person or the politics, I want to focus on the substance. Why is fluoride in water such an important topic that a major figure would suggest prioritizing it on day 1 of a President’s administration?

What is fluoride, and why is it added to drinking water and oral care products?

Early in the 20th century, dentists discovered that fluoride was correlated with fewer cavities, so municipalities (backed by the government) started adding fluoride to water supplies to decrease tooth decay.¹ The claim is that fluoride helps remineralize and strengthen tooth enamel and inhibits acid-producing oral bacteria. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hails fluoridation of drinking water as one of the Ten Great Public Health Achievements of the 20th century.² It’s important to note that the initial observations were of people who drank water with naturally occurring fluoride, while the fluoride added to water is synthetic. Let’s have a brief chemistry primer.

Fluorine is a chemical element with the atomic number 9 and the symbol “F” on the periodic table. Fluorine is highly reactive as a pale yellow gas at room temperature. Fluoride is the ionized (charged) form of fluorine created when fluorine gains an electron. Fluoride is found naturally in minerals, water, and soil in low concentrations. For example, typical natural fluoride concentrations in groundwater range from 0.1-1.5 mg/L. Natural fluoride exists in foods such as black tea, seafood and fish with bones, grapes, raisins, potatoes, spinach and other leafy greens, and mechanically deboned processed chicken products.

Naturally occurring fluoride comes from minerals in rocks and soil, like fluorite (CaF₂) and apatite (a mineral group with various calcium phosphate compositions). The fluoride added to drinking water and oral care products is a synthetic by-product of industrial processes that create compounds like sodium fluoride (NaF), stannous fluoride (SnF₂), fluorosilicic acid (H₂SiF₆), and sodium fluorosilicate (Na₂SiF₆).

“We often mistake an effect (e.g., of an action, a treatment, a molecule) for our understanding of the effect. What a thing does, and what we think (or know) that it does, are not the same thing.” —Brett Weinstein, evolutionary biologist

Synthetic vs. Natural Compounds

Adding synthetic fluoride to drinking water and oral care products makes a fundamental assumption that synthetic compounds interact with our biology in the same way as natural compounds. Unfortunately, many examples demonstrate this assumption does not always hold.

• Trans Fats (hydrogenated oils) - These synthetic fats are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, inflammation, and other metabolic issues. Unlike natural unsaturated fats, artificial trans fats are highly inflammatory and adversely affect cholesterol levels.

• Vitamin E - Natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) is derived from plant oils, while synthetic vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol) is often produced from petroleum products. Studies show that synthetic vitamin E is not as effectively absorbed and used by the body. Additionally, high doses of synthetic vitamin E have been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers and bleeding problems.

• Folate vs. Folic Acid - Folate is the naturally occurring form of vitamin B9 found in leafy greens, beans, and other whole foods. Folic acid, the synthetic form, is used in supplements and fortified foods. The body absorbs folic acid differently and often has difficulty converting excess synthetic folic acid to its active form, methylfolate. Unmetabolized folic acid in the bloodstream has been linked to potential health concerns, including an increased risk of certain cancers.

• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - Bioidentical hormones are chemically identical to hormones produced by the human body. Synthetic versions, such as conjugated equine estrogens (derived from horses) and progestins, have slight structural differences. Studies, including the Women’s Health Initiative, found that synthetic HRT was associated with increased risks of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. 

• Food Additives - Synthetic dyes and preservatives can trigger allergies, hyperactivity, and other health concerns, especially in sensitive individuals. Natural colorants and preservatives are typically less problematic for the body.

Dangers of Synthetic Fluoride

In his tweet, RFK Jr. linked to a video discussing a recent federal court ruling that ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a risk assessment to strengthen fluoride regulations.³ The most eye-opening passage in the ruling is the following:

One study found neurotoxicity in children who were exposed to fluoridated drinking water.⁴ Another study found a correlation between hypothyroidism and fluoridated water.⁵ Another study found that salmon lose the ability to navigate back to their home stream after swimming in fluoridated water.⁶ A recent systematic review by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) concluded that “…The overall evidence from this review suggests that high fluoride exposure might be associated with negative cognitive outcomes in children.”⁷ The Fluoride Action Network website is an excellent resource with comprehensive information about fluoride and many more studies.

Is fluoride a magic bullet for reducing cavities, with no costs to other aspects of health? It seems not. More pointedly, the quest for simple answers universally applicable to all humans in all conditions is misguided. I believe there is a sufficient signal to be cautious about exposure to synthetic fluoride.

Knowledge is only power if you take action

Here are some recommendations.

• Drink only filtered/purified water.

• Install a shower filter, bath filter, and sink filter.

• Choose fluoride-free toothpaste and mouthwash. Look for hydroxyapatite, a natural mineral that remineralizes and strengthens teeth. I also avoid any mouthwash with alcohol, which destroys beneficial oral bacteria. The company Risewell offers clean products.

• Consider mints or gum with xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol that helps reduce harmful oral bacteria.

• Try oil pulling as an alternative to mouthwash. I’ve written a newsletter about the benefits of oil pulling.

• Consider mouth taping at night, and here’s another newsletter where I wrote about the benefits.

• Decline any fluoride service offered by your dentist. Better yet, find a biological or holistic dentist who refuses to use fluoride.

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The Daily Habit is where I share my habits related to the fundamentals: sleep, diet, physical activity, mindfulness, and stress management.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) offers a free Healthy Living app with ratings for over 120,000 food and personal care products. Spend less time scrutinizing ingredient labels as you replace your everyday items with healthier alternatives.

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Here is a comment from founding Be Wellthy Club Member Steve H.

Death, taxes, and the Be Wellthy newsletter in my inbox every Monday. As a longtime Be Wellthy subscriber, I look forward to three things in every issue: 

1) Fresh insights on biohacking for body, mind, and energy.

2) Top recommendations for tools, gadgets, and supplements that Brandon has personally vetted and tested. I've personally purchased several of the products he has recommended in the newsletter and each one of them has been excellent.

3) Last but not least, a good dose of humor. If you're not a Be Wellthy subscriber you're missing out on all the bonus content and stories. Brandon keeps wellness entertaining and never boring. 

I’ve decided to extend the Be Wellthy Club membership discount price of $6 per month ($1.50 per newsletter) or $60 per year (2 months free and $1.15 per newsletter).

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Last week’s answer

Be Wellthy Club entrants: Scott L., Ariel E., Scott S., Renata B., Steve H.

Raffle prizes are for Be Wellthy Club Members only. Club members can email bewellthy@substack.com with the correct answer to each week’s brain training and be entered into a monthly raffle to win one of two prize packages every month. I do respond to every email.

This week:

Each block is equal to the sum of the two numbers beneath it. Find all the missing numbers.

See the answer.

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Last year, I wrote a summary of the Health & Freedom Summit, which focused on identifying and eliminating sources of toxins in the environment.

Keep your loved ones informed with the most up-to-date information about wellness by sharing this newsletter.

1. https://www.popsci.com/health/fluoride-drinking-water/

2. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4841a1.htm

3. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/04/fluoridation-water-epa-risk-assessement

4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25446012/

5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30316182/

6. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5763752

7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9819484/