LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) – You can’t see it with the naked eye, but Americans have been drinking water with fluoride in it since the end of World War II.
“Water fluoridation from a public health standpoint is known to be the greatest, most affordable, widespread agent that we have to decrease the incidence of cavities in not just kids, but in people,” said Dr. Craig Vinall, the University of Tennessee Pediatric Dentistry Program Director.
Vinall said that putting fluoride in the water helps improve dental health, especially among people who don’t regularly get to the dentist. Now, Loudon Utilities could remove fluoride altogether.
“The main feedback we get locally is from customers that call our chief water plant operator and want to know if we put fluoride in the system, and the vast majority of those people are opposed to it being in there,” said Loudon Utilities General Manager Kevin Goins.
Goins said there is community pushback.
“Fluoride is the only chemical that shows up to our water plant that has a skull and crossbones on it,” said Goins.
That sounds scary, but Vinall said fluoride is only dangerous at doses above the recommended limit.
“But when you go above and beyond that, it absolutely can be toxic,” said Vinall.
Goins said Loudon Utilities does not have a position on the fluoridation of water, and in his position as general manager, he provides the board with information that is both for and against putting fluoride in the water.
“I’ve been to several rollback attempts like what you’re talking about. And I hear some of the same verbiage, same language, same concerns, and it’s almost like it’s scripted. And so I think that they’ve been given some misinformation,” said Dr. Leon Stanislov, the former Chair of ADA National Fluoridation Advisory Committee.
While dentists support the practice and the science, Fluoride Action Network Executive Director Stuart Cooper said some people are already pushing back against fluoride.
“You’ve seen Florida banned the practice, Utah banned it and Louisiana is on the verge of ending their state mandate and just letting communities end it on a will. So, you’re going to see more of this,” said Cooper.
Cooper is not a dentist, but he said he got involved because his friend suffered from dental fluorosis. He expressed his frustration with the medical community for its position on fluoridation.
Vinall said the recommended level of fluoride has been lowered, and it currently sits at .7 milligrams per liter. Studies have shown that fluoride can cause harm if consumed at levels above 1.4 milligrams.
Stanislav, an expert on fluoridation, warns that these rollbacks may not succeed, pointing to similar efforts elsewhere.
“Look to Juneau, or Calgary, Canada, where they discontinued fluoride, additions to the water,” said Stanislav. “And some years later noticed a spike in tooth decay. And now, most cities are now reintroducing it. So those areas where they’ve discontinued, may have regrets down the road.”
Dentists said fluoride helps prevent tooth decay, which Stanislav said is the number one childhood disease, and can even keep adults out of work. The Loudon Utilities Board will hold the public meeting on Monday, June 8.
Original article online at: https://www.wate.com/news/loudon-county-news/loudon-utilities-fluoride-removal/