The fluoridation war: a scientific dispute or a religious argument?

Communal water fluoridation is not considered controversial by the vast majority of the scientific community; however, politically it has persisted as an issue that many legislators and community leaders have avoided because of an aura of dispute, it has been a battleground for vigorous opposition by a very small but outspoken minority who have fought it with the dedication of religious zealots. This paper reviews the nature of the opposition, who they are, the broad thrust of their arguments, some of the specific issues they have raised, and their techniques.