See original letter at canada-saskatchewan.moose-jaw.april-16-19.letter

ATTACHMENT 1

Saskatchewan Health Authority
Public Health Services 107-110 Ominica St. W.
Moose Jaw,  SK  S6H 6V2
P: 306 -691-1500  I F: 3 06-691-1523

April 16, 2019

To: Mr. Mark Caringal
Engineering Technologist City of Moose Jaw

Position statement on Community Water Fluoridation

Good oral health is essential to our overall health and well-being. In fact, tooth decay is one of the most common and widespread chronic diseases in Canada and worldwide.

Community water fluoridation is an important and often overlooked public health measure that has contributed over the last 70 years to the health of Canadians by preventing tooth decay and thereby improving oral health.

Fluoride is a mineral found naturally in almost all water sources, and in small amounts in food and soil. Fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay by strengthening the enamel layer and making teeth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. Water fluoridation is the process of adjust ing the level of fluoride in the water to provide optimal dental health benefits.

The big advantage of community water fluoridation is that it benefits all residents in a community, regardless of age, socioeconomic stat us, education, oral hygiene practices,

employ ment or access to routine dental care, making it a truly equit able public health practice. Canadian and international studies agree that properly fluoridated water is safe. High levels of ingested fluoride may cause dental fluorosis, which causes white specks to appear on the teeth and is usually unnoticeable. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that children sh ould avoid drinking fluoridated water at the accepted levels in Canadian drinking wat er .

Many governments and health organizations, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, the Canadian Public Health Association, the Canadian Dental Association, the Canadian Medical Association and the World Health Organization support the fluoridation of drinking water as an important public health measure to prevent tooth decay .

Community Water Fluoridation remains a safe, cost-effective and equitable public health practice and an important tool in protecting and maintaining the health and well-being of Canadians. Public Health strongly supports the Public Health Agency of Canada in promoting Community Water Fluoridation.

Dr. Mark Vooght
Medical Health Officer
SHA
Moose Jaw

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