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As bans spread, fluoride in drinking water divides communities across the US (kffhealthnews.org)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

341 comments fedilink hide all child comments

…

It is a scenario playing out nationwide. From Oregon to Pennsylvania, hundreds of communities have in recent years either stopped adding fluoride to their water supplies or voted to prevent its addition. Supporters of such bans argue that people should be given the freedom of choice. The broad availability of over-the-counter dental products containing the mineral makes it no longer necessary to add to public water supplies, they say. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that while store-bought products reduce tooth decay, the greatest protection comes when they are used in combination with water fluoridation.

The outcome of an ongoing federal case in California could force the Environmental Protection Agency to create a rule regulating or banning the use of fluoride in drinking water nationwide. In the meantime, the trend is raising alarm bells for public health researchers who worry that, much like vaccines, fluoride may have become a victim of its own success.

The CDC maintains that community water fluoridation is not only safe and effective but also yields significant cost savings in dental treatment. Public health officials say removing fluoride could be particularly harmful to low-income families — for whom drinking water may be the only source of preventive dental care.

“If you have to go out and get care on your own, it’s a whole different ballgame,” said Myron Allukian Jr., a dentist and past president of the American Public Health Association. Millions of people have lived with fluoridated water for years, “and we’ve had no major health problems,” he said. “It’s much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it.”

According to the anti-fluoride group Fluoride Action Network, since 2010, over 240 communities around the world have removed fluoride from their drinking water or decided not to add it.

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[–] [email protected] 42 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (3 children)

Not this shit again. This pseudo-scientific nonsense has been debunked numerous times already. You would think that this would be a dead conspiracy theory but here we are debating this once more. This is what happens when you have an scientifically illiterate population.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago

This is what happens when you have an scientifically illiterate population.

It's the old Alex Jones "turning the frogs gay" line. Just enough science to hurt yourself with.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

On a more positive note if they lose their teeth they might have less luck at reproduction. Problem fixes itself, fingers crossed

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

From personal experience in dealing with people without as many teeth as the average, it doesn't stop them. R selection strategies in action.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I am missing a tooth from a face injury.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

You're still above average! ;)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

How? I don't know anyone my age that is missing two teeth. It isn't a big deal I have a fake one in there. Hurt like fucking hell at the time however.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Lol, mostly because I'm playing with the numbers. Kids only have 20 teeth until they're in double digits. But I was also working with a population that typically had 3-10 teeth missing, so my perspective is skewed ;)

[–] Mouselemming -1 points 7 months ago

Do your point a favor, remove the n from an