MOREHEAD CITY — The Carteret County Consolidated Human Services Board unanimously approved a statement Monday in favor of fluoridating public water supplies.
The Human Services Board oversees the County Health Department and Department of Social Services. Members took action during their meeting, held in the County Health Department conference room.
The board’s action does not force other municipalities or entities to fluoridate their water systems.
The members’ stance comes on the heels of two county municipalities, Atlantic Beach and Morehead City, banning fluoride in their public water systems. Both towns claimed there were safety hazards for workers who handled fluoride to treat water supplies. Towns had also received complaints from residents about fluoridation of water systems. Neither town presented studies to back up their actions.
Human Services Board member Dr. Darden Eure, a retired dentist, is an avid supporter of fluoride in public water systems because of documented studies that show it helps prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is also available through other means, such as toothpaste.
“Fluoridation can almost eradicate tooth decay,” he said during the meeting.
Human Services Board Director Scott Cobb agreed.
“It’s proven to be a public health benefit,” he said. “We want to inform the citizenry.”
The board approved the following statement as its official position:
“The Carteret County Consolidated Human Services Board affirms that public water fluoridation remains a cornerstone of community-based disease prevention. It is a safe, effective, and evidence-based public health measure that significantly reduces tooth decay across all age groups and socioeconomic levels.
“Decades of scientific research and public health experience demonstrate that fluoridated drinking water improves oral health outcomes and helps prevent cavities, particularly among children and populations with limited access to dental care, without posing significant health risks.
“While this Board does not have regulatory authority over municipal drinking water systems — this authority rests solely with the local municipalities — it is issuing this statement to provide accurate, science-based information to the public and to support informed community decision-making on matters affecting public health within Carteret County.”
The motion to approve the statement was made by Carol Armistead, and seconded by Betsy Daniels. It passed by unanimous vote.
The board began touting the benefits of fluoride during its August meeting, when it hosted Rhonda Stephens, DDS, MPH, a professor and director in the Department of Public Health Leadership & Practice at UNC, and a former state dental director. She assured board members that fluoridation of water systems at the amount recommended by the Centers for Disease (CDC) Control and Prevention has tremendous benefits, especially for young children.
She said it remineralizes youth tooth enamel, reverses early tooth decay, slows down the process of demineralization and prevents the growth of cavity-causing bacteria. Stephens pointed out that studies, she referred to as questionable, that say fluoride can cause lower IQ in children, were mainly done in countries where there was a much higher amount of fluoride than what the CDC recommends for the United States, which is 0.7mg/L. She also questioned other processes of those studies.
Topically, fluoride is applied through water, toothpaste, mouth rinse, gel, foam and varnish. These methods increase fluoride concentration in dental plaque and saliva, resulting in continuous exposure to small amounts.
Systemically, it’s applied through fluoridated water and supplements. This method incorporates into the tooth enamel of developing primary and permanent teeth before they erupt into the mouth. It’s especially beneficial for children ages 0-8, and age 16 if they are cutting wisdom teeth, according to Stephens.
Fluoride is a mineral found in almost all soil, water and rocks. In surface water, it’s typically found in concentrations of 0.2 mg/L or less. In ground water (wells), it’s usually found in concentrations of 0.1 mg/L up to more than 0.5 mg/L. Ocean water typically contains 1.2 to 1.4 mg/L.
Tooth decay still remains one of the most common chronic diseases among children and adults in the U.S. Stephens said about 96% of people have experienced tooth decay by age 65.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Dental Association, and other major health organizations continue to support fluoride’s safety, citing no convincing evidence linking it to adverse health effects.
Original article online at: https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/article_be7b4b3d-aee4-4de8-aff7-48f30511286a.html