A new report on fluoride levels in drinking water has advocates on both sides claiming the results support their cause. The report recommended that the EPA lower the maximum allowable levels of fluoride in the nation's water to avoid health risks, but only about 200,000 Americans currently consume water above those levels.

Fluoride occurs naturally in water, but communities where natural levels are lower add additional fluoride. The practice has long been recommended by dentists because it reduces the risk of cavities, saves money, and helps low-income families without access to dental care. According to the American Dental Association, fluoride in water helps reduce tooth decay by as much as 40 percent.

If you were raised in America, you probably associate fluoride with healthy teeth, but behind the shiny toothpaste tubes and ADA proclamations lies a massive debate that has been raging for years.

While fluoridation of American drinking water may seem like the surest form of preventative medicine — fluoridate kids from birth and they'll suffer fewer cavities later — a growing community of doctors and scientists believe that fluoride is a toxic chemical that should be nowhere near public drinking water.