USA - Pennsylvanians need fluoride now
Exec: Pennsylvanians need fluoride now
DR. JON J. JOHNSTON
This fall, the Pennsylvania General Assembly has the opportunity to improve the health of millions by requiring public water supplies to add a naturally occurring substance to our drinking water.
The natural substance is fluoride, which for generations has been used safely and effectively to prevent tooth decay among people of all ages and economic backgrounds. More than 50 years of scientific study show that fluoride reduces tooth decay 20 to 40 percent in the entire population.
The same studies have concluded that water fluoridation at preventative levels is safe to consume.In 2004, the surgeon general said, “Fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health over a lifetime, for both young and old.”
The good news for Pennsylvanians is that their state lawmakers have a chance to pass legislation that would require all public water supplies with 1,000 or more customers to add preventative fluoride to their drinking water. House Bill 1649 recognizes that fluoridation is the best method to provide immediate health benefits to all Pennsylvanians, even those who do not visit a dentist regularly.
As the General Assembly begins to consider the fluoride bill, Pennsylvanians need to be wary of the misinformation being offered on the Internet and the junk science related to water fluoridation.
To do that, they should consider the following:
n Scientific studies have repeatedly confirmed the safety of water fluoridation at preventative levels (0.7-1.2 parts per million) and its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay.
n Fluoride prevents cavities by making tooth enamel harder and more resistant to the acids that cause tooth decay.
n In Pennsylvania, only half the water supplies are fluoridated. The Pennsylvania Dental Association recommends fluoride supplements for children and adults served by nonfluoridated water supplies.
n The average cost for a community to fluoridate the water ranges between 50 cents and $3 a year per person.
n Fluoridation would save a significant amount of money in the state Medicaid budget and reduce the school hours lost per year because of dental-related illness.
n Adding fluoride to water is similar to adding Vitamin D to milk and Vitamin C to orange juice.
The Pennsylvania Dental Association has made patient access to dental health services a priority. The first step in ensuring that everyone – young and old, rich and poor – has the basic level of oral health care is to add preventative levels of fluoride to their water.
It would improve health and save money for millions of Pennsylvanians. We urge our neighbors to contact their state lawmakers and let them know, after 60 years of fluoride in the United States, that it’s time for fluoride now in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Jon J. Johnston is president of the Pennsylvania Dental Association.
DR. JON J. JOHNSTON
This fall, the Pennsylvania General Assembly has the opportunity to improve the health of millions by requiring public water supplies to add a naturally occurring substance to our drinking water.
The natural substance is fluoride, which for generations has been used safely and effectively to prevent tooth decay among people of all ages and economic backgrounds. More than 50 years of scientific study show that fluoride reduces tooth decay 20 to 40 percent in the entire population.
The same studies have concluded that water fluoridation at preventative levels is safe to consume.In 2004, the surgeon general said, “Fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health over a lifetime, for both young and old.”
The good news for Pennsylvanians is that their state lawmakers have a chance to pass legislation that would require all public water supplies with 1,000 or more customers to add preventative fluoride to their drinking water. House Bill 1649 recognizes that fluoridation is the best method to provide immediate health benefits to all Pennsylvanians, even those who do not visit a dentist regularly.
As the General Assembly begins to consider the fluoride bill, Pennsylvanians need to be wary of the misinformation being offered on the Internet and the junk science related to water fluoridation.
To do that, they should consider the following:
n Scientific studies have repeatedly confirmed the safety of water fluoridation at preventative levels (0.7-1.2 parts per million) and its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay.
n Fluoride prevents cavities by making tooth enamel harder and more resistant to the acids that cause tooth decay.
n In Pennsylvania, only half the water supplies are fluoridated. The Pennsylvania Dental Association recommends fluoride supplements for children and adults served by nonfluoridated water supplies.
n The average cost for a community to fluoridate the water ranges between 50 cents and $3 a year per person.
n Fluoridation would save a significant amount of money in the state Medicaid budget and reduce the school hours lost per year because of dental-related illness.
n Adding fluoride to water is similar to adding Vitamin D to milk and Vitamin C to orange juice.
The Pennsylvania Dental Association has made patient access to dental health services a priority. The first step in ensuring that everyone – young and old, rich and poor – has the basic level of oral health care is to add preventative levels of fluoride to their water.
It would improve health and save money for millions of Pennsylvanians. We urge our neighbors to contact their state lawmakers and let them know, after 60 years of fluoride in the United States, that it’s time for fluoride now in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Jon J. Johnston is president of the Pennsylvania Dental Association.
posted by Bill at
9:47 AM
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