The Grey-Bruce Health Unit is an advocate for fluoridated drinking water, and the Medical Officer of Health supports provincial legislation to make it mandatory.
Doctor Hazel Lynn and the Board of Health supported the resolution from the Windsor-Essex Health Unit at their meeting last month, with a condition that Queen’s Park help cover the fees associated with adding fluoride.
The Health Unit’s motion is just a show of support for community and dental health.
However, Mississauga-Streetsville MPP, Bob Delaney, has introduced a document in the Legislature calling on the Liberal government to make fluoridation mandatory.
Doctor Lynn tells Bayshore Broadcasting News she “really supports having municipal water fluoridated”, but if the Wynne government were the mandate it under the Safe Drinking Water Act, then they should offer grants and funding to help cover costs.
Locally, Owen Sound is the only community to add the mineral to its water supply.
The question was on the ballot during October’s civic election.
According to Doctor Lynn, children in municipalities with low levels of fluoride in their drinking water have a much higher rate of tooth decay.
She says Markdale and Wiarton have the worst teeth in Grey-Bruce.
Researchers have found people who grow up drinking naturally fluoridated water had up to two-thirds fewer cavities than people living in areas without fluoridated water.
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