The Feb. 8 article “Officials considering removal of fluoride from Schenectady water” did not explain that fluoride in drinking water greatly reduces cavities and is recommended by the state Health Department and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to promote good dental health.

According to the CDC, for a community similar to Schenectady, on average, fluoridation saves $38 for every $1 invested (in 1995 dollars). Even when factoring in the recent increase in the cost of fluoride, it still costs much less to fluoridate, when compared to the more than $300 it costs for dental fillings for a single tooth over a lifetime.

Fluoride tablets and drops, rinses and toothpastes, are more expensive and less effective than fluoridation in drinking water.

Extensive scientific evidence clearly documents that more than 60 years of U.S. community water fluoridation has resulted in significant reductions in tooth decay.

Print PDF