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Toronto-based CSE to the Ontario Dental Association:
"It's time for you to stand up and defend water fluoridation!"
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CSE to ODA- "It's time for you to stand up and defend water fluoridation!"
Today, Citizens for a Safe Environment (CSE) received the press release (see below) in which the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) calls upon communities and politicians in Ontario "to stand up for water fluoridation."
Ironically this appeal comes a short time after CSE sent an invitation to the ODA to participate in a forum which will address the question, "Should Toronto as the largest population urban area in Ontario halt the practice of water fluoridation?" The forum is scheduled to be held in Toronto at the United Steelworkers Union Hall, 25 Cecil Street, 3-5 pm on Monday August 11.
According to CSE President Karen Buck, "The best way that the ODA can get communities and politicians to stand up for water fluoridation is to provide, in person, a cogent and scientifically-referenced defense of fluoridation at the afternoon forum. CSE is asking ODA to reconsider our invitation in light of their press release and, perhaps, Dr. Ian McConachie would accept our invitation. Two recent health advisories, one from their counterpart in the USA, the American Dental Association, and, another from the US National Kidney Foundation, raise concern that infants under the age of one and those with chronic kidney disease could be put at risk by the practice of water fluoridation in Ontario. CSE supports the policy and practice of making drinking water safe for everyone. We are waiting to see if the ODA will reconsider our invitation.
CSE also invited Canada's Chief Dental Officer, Dr. Peter Cooney, to participate, but he has declined citing a "scheduling conflict." He is looking to see if any other Health Canada representative will agree to present the case for water fluoridation at the August 11 forum.
A staff member of the Canadian Dental Association has already declined to participate but the CDA, through the President of the Board of Directors, Dr. Deborah Stymiest, has been asked to reconsider.
According to Dr. Paul Connett, Director of the Fluoride Action Network, who has agreed to present the arguments against fluoridation at the forum, "It amazes me that dentists and health officials who speak so forcefully on the merits of water fluoridation in one-sided exchanges such as press releases, and presentations before unsuspecting councils, are not prepared to put their confidence to the test in open public debate. I was always taught that if you really believed in something you should defend it in public and against all comers."
Connett adds, "It is simply not enough to quote regulatory bodies which have supported this practice for so long, that they simply don't know how to admit that they were wrong. More importantly, we cannot afford to leave this issue any longer to dentists or dental experts, no matter their good intentions. There are more tissues in the body than teeth and recent scientific reports, particularly from countries which have high natural levels of fluoride, indicate that fluoride can cause harm to many tissues, including the bones, the brain and the endocrine system. The US National Research Council published an excellent 507-page review of many of these health effects in 2006 but this report is being ignored in Canada. Most alarmingly, there are now 18 studies, three published last year alone, which show that fluoride can lower IQ in children."
FAN and the International Society for Fluoride Research (ISFR) have joined to bring experts from around the world to Toronto to share important health information on fluoride at a triple event. The first part (August 7-10) is a conference focused on the new science, and is being organized by the ISFR. The second part (August 10-11) is focused on efforts to end fluoridation worldwide, in light of new scientific evidence, and is being organized by FAN. The third part (August 11) will bring the new science from scientists, researchers, doctors and dentists to downtown Toronto for two free public fluoride forums. The first in the afternoon (3-5 pm) will feature the forum on water fluoridation and the second in the evening (7-10 pm) will feature Dr. C. Vyvyan Howard presenting a review of fluoride's impacts on the brain. Dr. Howard is an infant and fetal medically-trained toxico-pathologist from the University of Belfast in Northern Ireland, and the current President of the International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE) which has 20,000 members worldwide.
Full details of all three events can be obtained at http://www.FluorideAlert.org).
Contacts:
CSE Karen Buck: 416-690-7593 and karenbuck@rogers.com
FAN Paul Connett: 315-379-9200 and paul@fluoridealert.org and
ISFR Hardy Limeback: hardy.limeback@dentistry.utoronto.ca
July 23, 2008 - ODA's press release.
ODA says to communities - "It's time to stand up for water fluoridation!"
Water fluoridation is imperative preventative measure for lifelong good health
TORONTO, July 23 /CNW/ - The Ontario Dental Association (ODA) is speaking out to communities and politicians who are considering removing fluoride from their water by urging them to get the facts from informed medical experts.
"Water fluoridation helps prevent tooth decay - it's just that simple,"says Hamilton-based ODA President Dr. Larry Levin. "I see it in my office all the time - water fluoridation is something kids need from a very early age - adults need it too. It's preventative care that will help for life."
At a symposium sponsored by the ODA entitled "Designing Dental Programs for High-Risk Children," at the International Association of Dental Research held in Toronto recently, a panel of experts from around the world agreed that water fluoridation is essential in preventative care.
"To remove water fluoridation would be a tremendous step backward," said IADR presenter and ODA Past-President Dr. Ian McConnachie. "Kids need all the help they can get in life - and we owe it to each and every one of them to ensure that they get this kind of preventative care."
There are other international experts who agree with the ODA on water fluoridation:
• The Health Canada Website of the Office of the Chief Dental Officer reports that: "Experts confirm the benefits of fluoride for dental health."
* The Canadian Dental Association states: "CDA supports fluoridation of municipal drinking water as a safe, effective and economical means of preventing dental caries (cavities) in all age groups."
* Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia states: "The CDC has recognized the fluoridation of drinking water to prevent dental decay as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.
* The U.S. Surgeon General states: "Community water fluoridation continues to be the most cost-effective, equitable and safe means to provide protection from tooth decay in a community."
* The World Health Organization (WHO) states: "That universal access to fluoride for dental health is a part of the basic human right to life."
"The ODA is saying to communities and to politicians that it's time to stand up for water fluoridation - it's important to your town, your city, your
family and your dentist," says Dr. Levin. "It's essential to both your oral health and your overall health. If you have questions about water fluoridation, please speak to your dentist today."
For further information: Kari Cuss, Public Affairs & Communications, Ontario Dental Association, p. (416) 355-2278, c. (647) 294-7613, e.kcuss@oda.on.ca http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2008/23/c6652.html
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