U.S. Lowers Fluoride Levels in Water

Americans are now consuming too much fluoride, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday, and the government will lower the amount it puts into drinking water as a result. Since 1962, when the U.S. began advising flouride be added to drinking water, the amount has stayed steady at 0.7 parts per million in warm areas and 1.2 parts per million in cool regions. Additional flouride, a mineral, was proven to reduce tooth decay and prevent cavities. Now the ratio will be lowered to 0.7 across the board after studies found that 40 percent of adolescents had tooth streaking or spottiness due to too much consumption of flouride, which is also included in various tooth products.