Water fluoridation bill passes Nevada Senate Finance Committee

Anjeanette Damon, Inside Nevada Politics, of the Reno Gazette Journal, reported today that

The Senate Finance Committee has amended and passed a bill that would require the Truckee Meadows Water Authority to fluoridate Washoe County’s water.

“The bill was opposed by conservative activists who are suspicious of government fluoridation programs,” wrote Damon. The bill now goes to the Senate floor for a vote.

Comments to the Damon report are mixed. One commenter thinks it is a waste of money for something nobody wants or needs.

Another commenter wrote: “every dentist I’ve talked to supports floride in drinking water. maybe ask your dentist.”

Yet another: “Not to mention that fluoride is a toxic substance, has never been proven to reduce tooth decay, and has been shown to reduce IQ levels in children. Whatever happened to informed consent before being medicated? This is highly unethical. Big gov needs to stay out of our water supply.”

Then there was “Great, our pristine drinking water will now state like Los Angeles Tap water.”

And, “Democrats are now running the state, THAT is why.”

Adding “Why are we spending money on a controversial luxury right now?” asked one commenter.

But, what are the facts about flouridation of water?  Why flouridate it? What does Wikipedia say?

Water fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to a public water supply to reduce tooth decay.

Fluoridated water operates on tooth surfaces: drinking it creates low levels of fluoride in saliva, which reduces the rate at which tooth enamel demineralizes and increases the rate at which it remineralizes in the early stages of cavities.

Sounds beneficial so far. What about the cost?

Typically a fluoridated compound is added to drinking water, a process that costs about $0.93 per person-year in the U.S. (range $0.22–$9.85).

Ninety-three cents a head doesn’t sound exorbitant.

Bottled water typically has unknown fluoride levels, and some more-expensive household water filters remove some or all fluoride.

Dental cavities remain a major public health concern in most industrialized countries, affecting 60–90% of schoolchildren and the vast majority of adults.

Water fluoridation prevents cavities in both children and adults^, with studies estimating an 18–40% reduction in cavities when water fluoridation is used by children who already had access to toothpaste and other sources of fluoride.

Sounds better still.

In the U.S., water fluoridation was listed as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century.

Water fluoridation’s goal is to prevent a chronic disease whose burdens particularly fall on children and on the poor. Almost all major public health and dental organizations support water fluoridation, or consider it safe.

Politics rears its ugly head.

Like vaccination and food fortification, fluoridation presents a conflict between benefiting the common good and infringing on individual rights.

Wikipedia has a whole lot more on the topic. It is not for me to copy it all and put it here. I recommend those of you who are concerned about flouridation go read it for yourselves. Like FOX says, “you decide.” As for me it appears the benefits outweigh the risks.

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