The Dangers of Fluoride on the Brain and IQ with Dr. Mark Burhenne

If we want to continue learning how to optimize health, we have to stay open to new information that might contradict previous research, even if it questions the status quo.

Fluoride and dental health are great examples of this process. Fluoride gained support due to an observation one man made many years ago, which has progressed into many cities fluoridating their water and most dentists singing its praises. But over the years the research on fluoride has greatly evolved, to the point that we can now see large differences in how it works topically versus internally, and identify risks that come with consumption.

Today’s guest on The Dhru Purohit Podcast spent much of his time as a new dentist and new parent grappling with whether it was a good idea to give fluoride to his kids. Dr. Mark Burhenne is a functional dentist, and the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller The 8-Hour Sleep Paradox. He has appeared in Dr. Hyman's Sleep Masterclass, the oral microbiome docuseries Gateway to Health, NPR, and many more.

Dhru and Dr. Burhenne talk about the emerging research that supports connections between fluoride and IQ changes, neurotoxicity, arthritis, osteosarcomas, and changes in metabolism, among other concerns. Dr. Burhenne explains how fluoride works in the body, and why using it topically is very different than consuming it. They also talk about the root cause of cavities—it’s not a deficiency in fluoride, but the sugary and starchy foods making up the Standard American Diet, an altered oral microbiome, and mouth breathing.

In this episode, we dive into:

- What made Dr. Burhenne first question fluoride (3:24)
- Why fluoride is added to our water (8:52)
- Conventional dentistry and fluoride use (14:22)
- Studies that show why we need to rethink adding fluoride to our water (21:47)
- The EPA Federal lawsuit that could limit fluoride in drinking water (24:25)
- The effects of fluoride on the brain (31:42)
- How we get fluoride in water (35:29)
- Why fluoride in toothpaste doesn’t really work (37:59)
- How to choose a water filter (50:18)
- Dr. Burhenne’s toothpaste recommendations (56:36)
- What actually creates cavities and healthy teeth (1:05:02)
- What we can learn from modern hunter-gatherers when it comes to dental health (1:11:22)

Also mentioned in this episode:

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Dr. Burhenne
Check out his podcast Ask The Dentist.

[e.Monty]

I’m a Registered Dental Hygienist and I don’t use fluoridated toothpaste for my children. In my household we use Dr. Sheffield’s Certified Natural Toothpaste.

When at work, I do my best not to push fluoride varnish onto my patients.
I personally prefer and recommend MI Paste for my patients when needed.

[SubliminalD-pmwy]

Conspiracies don't exist. Every rich powerful person in the world loves you and wants what is best for you! Obey, consume!

[TabIsrael]

So grateful for this confirmation conversation. I’ve been a mother 16 years now, and I never allowed my girls or my son to have fluoride or various vaccines. They are all very healthy, with few to no cavities and never get sick seriously. ❤THANK YOU!!!

[jjjvvv]

The most popular argument for fluoride is that it helps with cavities... well it's not worth losing your 3rd eye dear God!!!!

[IM-skwj]

Very under rated podcast. Keep up the good work.

[mariaclaraps]

OMG please let the person being interviewed SPEAK 🙏🏽

[Bellibones]

Fluoride was ruining my hair, leaving my scalp with fluoride hard water Plaques, since only washing with distilled water I’ve seen a massive improvement! Fluoride was doing that to my scalp, what was it doing to the rest of my body 😬

[carlydelvecchio]

The government knows full well how much fluoride people are consuming.

[fhoofe]

reverse osmosis can go under your kitchen sink, can be zero-waste, and is pretty easy to replace filters. might be cheaper in the long run for people who own homes/condos/etc. Watts and Premier are the ones i've used

[RaisingSeeds]

31:50 is where i became a forever fan of Dr. Burhenne

[brentbeatty]

I am a fan of Dr Mark Hyman.... If I could afford it... I would follow Dr Hyman`s profession

[smallgrass]

Very very informative thank you very much 🙏🙏🙏

[pianopleasures]

Is this video against fluoride just in the water or in toothpaste as well?

[banginghats]

He said calcium and fluoride are similar. How can that be when fluoride is a negatively charged atom of fluorine, which is a halogen. Calcium has two electrons in the outer shell and tends to lose them to form a complete octet. Flourine has seven electrons in the outer shell and tends to gain an electron to form a complete octet as fluoride. Calcium is a soft, silvery white metal whereas fluorine is a poisonous gas. The electronegativity of calcium is 1.0 on the Pauling scale, whereas fluorine is 4 on that scale.

[drirene]

I need a 10 min summary of this to share with my very busy adult children.

[conman]

What do you recommend getting fluoride out of your system?

[livingholistically]

In one municipality that I used to use the water tasted horrible. We would buy juice and sodas and even milk instead of paying for bottled water which at the time didn't make sense. Some kind of public servant visited the radio and said the water was safe to drink and encouraged everyone to drink it. Why? By then I had gotten sick because I was not drinking water and I was drinking the tap water but I got suspicious after that awkward radio interview so we started to buy distilled water. Later I found out the water is highly chlorinated because it is wastewater that is being treated and recycled. It is not very high quality tasted horrible.

[stacielivinthedream]

Epic water filter pitcher is what I have and I love it but it's not cheap!

[ProdigiousOne]

Oh, yeah, that's why toothpastes with fluoride have a health warning on the back and why it's important to completely spit out the toothpaste after using it to brush the teeth.

[pran]

when i was a kid in Florida my family would stop at roadside shops - there were often many Seminole kids there and they begged for money - most of them had missing teeth because they immediately went and bought candy - if you look at indigenous peoples from many parts of the world - they have all their teeth in good shape - no sugar