Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller Calls For Fluoride Ban In Tap Water

You have probably been told the benefits of fluoride since you were little. It is the active ingredient in many toothpastes as it has been proven to prevent cavities and strengthen teeth enamel.

In most places in the U.S., very small amounts are added to public (a.k.a. "tap") water as a public health measure. Flouride improves the overall health of our teeth when we drink it in small amounts.

However, fluoride in public drinking water has been controversial since it was implemented in the 1940s. 

According to McGill, while fluoride absolutely is toxic in high amounts (and has been used as rat poison in the past), "the rodent would have to drink roughly a hundred liters of fluoridated tap water [without urinating any out] before suffering the same fate."

Additionally, "the chlorine we use to purify our water can also be used as a chemical weapon." So to get rid of everything toxic, we'd have bacteria-ridden, dangerous water anyway.

The anti-fluoride movement has gained traction with states like Tennessee, North Dakota, and New Hampshire introducing bills to eliminate it in public drinking water. Now, according to Chron, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is asking Texas to do the same.

"While we work to expand and improve our aging water infrastructure amid our growing water crisis, we must also address the fact that our water infrastructure should not be used as a delivery system for government-mandated chemicals without the consent of the people," Miller said in a press release.

High concentrations of fluoride absolutely can and will cause health and cosmetic issues. High doses of fluoride can weaken bones, and it can leave white marks on your teeth. But as McGill argues, "the dose makes the poison."