Dear Editor: A DeForest Village Board meeting revealed troubling gaps in the understanding of water fluoridation, despite growing scientific evidence of its risks.
A Sun Prairie dentist inaccurately claimed that pregnant women should drink fluoridated water to strengthen their babies’ teeth. However, fluoride works topically, not systemically, as a 2007 Journal of Public Health Dentistry study confirmed. This misunderstanding is common, even among dental professionals.
Public health claims by Dane County about fluoride’s benefits are outdated. For decades, proponents cited a 25% reduction in tooth decay, but recent studies — including Cochrane, LOTUS, and CATFISH — show reductions as low as 3%.
Judge Edward Chen’s 2023 federal court verdict acknowledged fluoride at current drinking water levels presents “an unreasonable risk of injury to health.” Judge Chen’s decision was based on robust evidence, including the U.S. National Toxicology Program’s (NTP) findings that fluoride exposure lowers IQ in children, particularly in sensitive developmental stages.
Dietary habits, not a lack of fluoride, are the primary drivers of tooth decay. A father worried about losing fluoridation’s benefits while his child snacked on goldfish crackers — foods identified by Dr. Mark Burhenne as harmful to teeth. Meanwhile, school breakfast programs supply children with up to 80 grams of sugar daily, far exceeding recommended levels of 25 grams.
Alarmingly, Wisconsin health agencies do not monitor fluoride levels in children, despite known risks like dental fluorosis and neurotoxicity. It’s time to reevaluate fluoridation policies in light of scientific findings and the court’s ruling. Public health must prioritize evidence-based measures, not outdated dogma.
Brend Staudenmaier
Green Bay