Fluoride
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Web posted Wednesday, March 24, 2004
My
Turn: Fluoridation is key to promoting oral health
by Brad Whistler
The Department of Health and Social Services became concerned
after hearing that the city and borough had stopped fluoridating the city
water last summer and local medical and dental practices were not aware
of the change. The Juneau Empire March 15 article, "City: Fluoride
was cut off to clean effluent," brought the issue to the public light.
The Department of Health and
Social Services now understands the city will resume fluoridating the water for
According to the American Dental
Association and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, community
water fluoridation and dental sealants (plastic coatings applied to the grooves
and fissures of teeth) are the two main evidence-based practices for reduction
in dental decay. Small amounts of fluoride occur naturally in all water
sources, and varying amounts are found in all foods and beverages. In fact, the
discovery of fluoride in water reducing dental decay was originally based on
studies that looked at naturally occurring levels of fluoride in communities
across the
Community water fluoridation has
been used to reduce dental decay for more than 50 years. The safety and
benefits of water fluoridation are generally acknowledged in the medical and
dental communities. Besides the Juneau medical and dental support for water
fluoridation, national organizations endorsing community water fluoridation
include the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics,
the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
and many public health organizations including the World Health Organization.
While much of the focus on
reduction in dental decay is on children, water fluoridation decreases decay in
adults and the elderly. Early studies on water fluoridation found reductions in
dental decay as much as 60 percent in baby teeth and 35 percent in permanent
teeth. More recent studies place the reduction in decay lower with more
individuals using fluoridated toothpaste and receiving topically applied fluoride
gels from their dentists. However water fluoridation remains recognized as the
cornerstone in reducing dental decay in the population served by these water
systems.
The issue Juneau Public Works
faced was the question of corrosiveness of fluoride contributing to the
elevation of lead and copper in drinking water. In the case of the
The department recognizes that
fluoridation of water systems should be done by trained water operators
and fluoride levels should be tested daily to maintain fluoride within
the optimal range for reduction of dental decay. For those interested
in finding out more about fluoride in water systems, I recommend viewing
the American Dental Association's Web site, www.ada.org, and/or the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Oral Health Web site,
www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/index.htm. These Web sites include a wealth of
information based on solid research and evidence on the benefits of community
water fluoridation.
The Alaska Department of Health
and Social Services' mission is to protect and promote the health and
well-being of Alaskans. Community water fluoridation is a key element in
promoting good oral health for people of all ages, income, education or
ethnicity. The department extends appreciation to the City and Borough of
Juneau for carefully considering this important issue and resuming this
important public health intervention.
Brad Whistler of
.