Stik:
All the pediatric dentists I have used are in favor of TOPICAL fluoride. They are not in favor of fluoride in the drinking water. Several countries have banned fluoride in drinking water. To my knowledge, those countries have not banned the use of topical fluoride.
As far as aspartame goes, I'll share my own personal anecdote, understanding that to you, I'm a complete stranger on the internet, with no published, peer-reviewed studies to back what I say. But I'd like your understanding in return, that, though this is to you merely an anecdote, to ME, it's pretty compelling, and I think you might understand why I share it.
The father of my best childhood pal was one of the original chemists who helped develop aspartame for Searle. When my friend told me what he was working on (my father was a chemist as well, so both she and I were science nerds, and interested in such details), I thought that was really cool (a new, no-calorie sweetenere, 200 times as sweet as sugar, wow!), and I asked if he brought home free samples.
The answer, of course, was no, he did not bring home free samples, and in fact, refused to let his family eat ANYTHING with artificial sweeteners, especially Nutrasweet, when it came out.
You see, his initial tests showed that it was carcinogenic. The lab rats developed brain cancers.
He recommended that, on that basis, aspartame NOT be submitted to the FDA for approval.
His studies were buried, and since they were officially the property of Searle, he was not allowed to publish them. They did other studies, which were tweaked, and Aspartame, of course was submitted to and approved by the FDA.
Of course, there are now conflicting studies on whether or not Aspartame is linked with brain cancers. The industry-funded studies indicate that it is quite safe. The independent studies show exactly the opposite. Not surprisingly, brain cancer and neurological problems, especially migraines, top the list of complaints against Aspartame.
To you, this will be an utterly unsubstantiated rumor on the internet.
To me, it's my friend's father, telling me that Searle buried studies--HIS studies--showing that Nutrasweet was carcinogenic. Of course, now, decades later, we can find all kinds of other independent tests, that conclude pretty much what he concluded back then.
But perhaps you prefer the industry-funded studies, which conclude Aspartame is safe.
So go ahead--let your kids eat all the Aspartame-sweetened yogurt they want, and all the Aspartame-sweetened kids' drinks they can hold.
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