To Fluoride or not

To The Eagle,

Wahkiakum PUD will be seeking public input regarding whether to continue or discontinue the addition of fluoride to the Cathlamet Water System. It is my opinion that our water should absolutely continue to be fluoridated.

Fluoridation is an equitable public health measure providing cavity prevention benefits to everyone in this community, regardless of age, income, or access to dental care. Consistent, low-level exposure through water provides a continuous protective effect. It’s a cost-effective public health intervention variably estimated to save $40 in dental treatment costs for every dollar invested in fluoridation.

Numerous scientific studies and major health organizations worldwide consistently support the safety and dental health benefits of public water fluoridation. Despite any claims by anti fluoridation alarmists, extensive research and systematic reviews have never found credible evidence linking fluoride, at optimal levels, to serious systemic health issues such as cancer, and bone or brain disorders. Don’t trust my synopsis of this? The extensively published science on this is digitally available to you.

Water fluoridated at optimal levels (currently 0.7 milligrams per liter in the U.S.) helps reduce cavities by approximately 25% in both children and adults. Communities that have stopped fluoridating their water have shown a subsequent increase in tooth decay rates. I wouldn’t recommend against fluoridating community water, any more than I’d suggest we stop chlorinating it.

JB Bouchard,

Puget Island