WAYLAND — The following was submitted by the Board of Health:
The town of Wayland has been adding fluoride to town water for the past 13 years. This practice, known as Community Water Fluoridation, has been recommended by the Division of Oral Health at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as an effective way to prevent tooth decay.
Since we began adding supplemental fluoride to our well water, the scientific literature on the health effects of fluoride exposure has evolved. While the CDC position on Community Water Fluoridation remains the same, recent studies have called into question the safety of excessive fluoride exposure in children.
Given this new scientific evidence, and the widespread availability of alternative topical fluoride sources (toothpaste and mouth rinses), the Board of Health is considering suspending the Community Water Fluoridation program.
The Board of Health will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 8 at 7 p.m. at the Wayland Town Building (the meeting room location will be posted).
Residents who would like to provide comment should plan to attend the hearing. If residents have comments and are not able to attend the hearing, please provide a letter to the Board of Health or email your comments to Public Health Director Julia Junghanns (jjunghanns@wayland.ma.us).
The Health Department will be soon posting information regarding Community Water Fluoridation on its page on the town’s website in preparation for the hearing.
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