Both sides weigh in on move to fluoridate county water
Letters to the EditorPublished July 1, 2004
EDITOR'S NOTE: Pinellas County commissioners voted last August to fluoridate the county water supply beginning June 7, 2004. County water goes to all residents of unincorporated Pinellas and to some city water systems. The commission's decision continues to spawn debate. Today's letter writers take sides.
As members of the Florida Dental Association in Pinellas County, it is our duty to provide our patients and the public with accurate scientific information to improve the public's health, promote the art and science of dentistry and maintain high practice standards. The health and safety of our patients will always be our first priority.
With a membership of more than 6,800 dentists, the Florida Dental Association and its affiliates in Pinellas County represent almost 80 percent of all Florida-licensed dentists in the state. Members encourage preventive dentistry, such as brushing at least twice a day, flossing at least once a day, visiting a dentist twice a year and fluoridating community drinking water.
Fluoridated drinking water is an effective method to prevent dental decay, and it reaches individuals of all ages in all socioeconomic groups, especially children whose families are poor. More than 50 years of exhaustive study and community experiences have demonstrated that community water fluoridation is the safest, most effective method to prevent tooth decay. The Florida Dental Association supports the optimal fluoridation of drinking water as a safe, effective, economical way to prevent dental decay.
Support of fluoridation among scientists and health professionals, including physicians and dentists, is nearly universal as a result of published, peer-reviewed research.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognized fluoridation as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.
The World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization have endorsed the practice of water fluoridation since 1964. In 1994 the WHO reaffirmed its support of fluoridation as being safe and effective in the prevention of tooth decay.
The Florida Department of Health supports community water fluoridation as the most cost-effective way to achieve better dental health for the citizens of Florida. To date, the Department of Health has found no solid scientific literature that links fluoridation to any disease.
The American Dental Association has carefully monitored scientific research regarding safety and efficacy and has continually reaffirmed water fluoridation as the most effective public health measure for the prevention of dental decay. The association strongly urges that the benefits of fluoridation be extended to those served by communal water systems and urges dentists and dental societies to exercise leadership in all phases of activity leading to the initiation and continuation of community water fluoridation.
It is important to remember these facts:
Fluoride is a natural substance that occurs in varying amounts in all water supplies.
Hydrofluosilicic acid is a regulated industrial product, as are all products used to treat water. It is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for treatment of water.
One part of fluoride added to 1-million parts of water has been proven to help prevent 50 to 70 percent of tooth decay in children.
Water fluoridation is the adjustment of the amount of natural fluoride in water to an optimal level to prevent tooth decay. (Optimal level ranges from 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million.)
Adjusted water fluoridation began in the United States about 50 years ago, and more than 9-million people drink naturally fluoridated water at 1 part per million or higher with no harm. More than 115-million people drink fluoridated water at optimal amounts.
Enamel, the outer layer of the tooth, is made stronger by the presence of fluoride.
Teeth become decayed when the enamel is broken down by acids present in the mouth.
Adults raised in fluoridated areas have 40 to 50 percent fewer decayed, missing and filled teeth.
Routine consumption of fluoridated water and proper use of fluoride products is not harmful. The only time there is a risk of getting too much fluoride is when fluoride products are misused, as in swallowing fluoride toothpaste or mouth rinses; inappropriate use of fluoride supplements; or drinking water with excessive amounts of fluoride.
Every qualified health organization in the United States supports and endorses water fluoridation, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association.
More than 20,000 studies have proven that water fluoridation is safe and effective.
Patients should talk openly with their dentists about their oral health needs.
Members of the Florida Dental Association in Pinellas County extend their appreciation for the leadership of the Pinellas County commissioners, who acted wisely on fluoridating county water to improve public health.
-- -Dr. Raed S. Kasem, Clearwater, President, Upper Pinellas County Dental Association
Adjunct clinical assistant professor, University of Florida
In his June 16 letter to the editor, Pick Talley, director of Pinellas County Utilities, rattles off an impressive list of official endorsers of water fluoridation, as proponents of the practice are trained to do.
There are two problems with Talley's claims: First, organizational endorsements are no substitute for valid scientific studies demonstrating safety and effectiveness. Second, two of the organizations listed by Talley, the American Cancer Society and the Environmental Protection Agency, are not on the list of official fluoridation endorsers.
The American Cancer Society maintains a neutral position on the matter and, according to Dr. William Hirzy, senior vice president of an Environmental Protection Agency professional union that is made up largely of scientists, the EPA had once been an official endorser but had its name removed some time ago.
Dr. Hirzy will no doubt give us details on this when he comes to Clearwater on July 8 to debate any expert the county would care to provide on the merits of water fluoridation - unless, of course, the county is unwilling to take on the challenge of debate.
-- Susan Stockton, Clearwater
The pros and cons of fluoridation aside, my argument concerns how I and the entire population of Pinellas County have come to be forced to ingest fluoride by the decree of our county commissioners.
Neither my doctor nor my dentist has deemed that I need fluoride supplementation. Yet the county commissioners, with no medical qualifications, are actually forcing me and my fellow residents to get a daily dose of fluoride.
This is an amazing state of affairs!
-- Louella Boshoff, Clearwater
Currently, a dispute exists over the fluoridation of Pinellas County drinking water. According to Pick Talley, director of Pinellas County Utilities, the state and county Health departments asked county commissioners in August 2003 to approve fluoridating the water for health benefits. Six of the seven commissioners voted on Aug. 26 for fluoridation, which took effect June 6.
The political action committee Citizens for Safe Water rebuts the alleged benefits of fluoridation and gives evidence of its harmful effects.
Both fluoridated toothpaste and dentists who apply fluoride to teeth warn that it should not be swallowed. The fluoride used by dentists and in toothpaste is purified and of pharmaceutical grade. The fluoride used in Pinellas water is hydrofluorosilicic acid, a toxic waste product of the phosphate industry that contains lead, arsenic and uranium and that otherwise is disposed of as hazardous waste.
It is a feat of logic to conclude that although swallowing purified fluoride is warned against, swallowing hydrofluorosilicic acid is beneficial. Besides being in drinking water, its pollutants are concentrated in cooking, the skin absorbs it in bathing, it enters the ground and produce in irrigation, and the water containing it is used in many commercial products. It is also corrosive for household plumbing and city water pipes.
If you were legally required to take an aspirin a day, you would rebel and might suspect special-interest involvement. As water is essential for life, water fluoridation amounts to forced medication.
Even hospitals require a signed consent form before patients can be medicated.
For those seeking information on fluoride, we are lucky to have a recently released, thoroughly researched and extensively documented book by investigative reporter Christopher Bryson, The Fluoride Deception, by Seven Stories Press.
-- Florence Burghorn, Clearwater
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