USA - On fluoride
On fluoride
Jan. 8, 2008
To the editor:
In response to Stan Justice on fluoridation: Mr. Justice concludes that “as long as the American Dental Association says it is good for our teeth and the American Medical Association says it is relatively safe,” he agrees with it being added.
The guidelines for the amount of fluoride have changed in recent years and the most remarkable change is the ADA is now recommending that infants up to 12 months of age do not receive fluoridated water or formula mixed with fluoridated water because the concentrate may be too much for their little bodies to handle. How do we handle this? Should we have the government pay for distilled water for families with children under 12 months.
In Fairbanks we have no choice of fluoridated or unfluoridated tap water. If we want a choice, then we have to buy distilled water from the grocery store. Is this not an unfair economic burden for our poorest citizens?
It has been my experience as a dentist that 80 percent of the decay is found in 20 percent of the population.
Why then are we medicating 100 percent of the population if only 20 percent need it? Also, when I prescribe medication to children, I have to know the weight of the child and calculate the dose required. There is no dose-specific calculation being done in our water treatment facilities. In fact, I would argue that children, who are much more active than adults, are getting more fluoride simply due to the fact that they drink more. Pound for pound, they are more likely to be over-medicated.
Let’s take the example of Kentucky, the only state that has 100 percent fluoridation in municipal water supplies (for which the ADA gave them an award in 2003). Kentucky also has the highest rate of people with full dentures — 42 percent. How has fluoridated water helped the people of Kentucky?
Craig O’Donoghue, DDS
Fairbanks
Very good letter
Jan. 8, 2008
To the editor:
In response to Stan Justice on fluoridation: Mr. Justice concludes that “as long as the American Dental Association says it is good for our teeth and the American Medical Association says it is relatively safe,” he agrees with it being added.
The guidelines for the amount of fluoride have changed in recent years and the most remarkable change is the ADA is now recommending that infants up to 12 months of age do not receive fluoridated water or formula mixed with fluoridated water because the concentrate may be too much for their little bodies to handle. How do we handle this? Should we have the government pay for distilled water for families with children under 12 months.
In Fairbanks we have no choice of fluoridated or unfluoridated tap water. If we want a choice, then we have to buy distilled water from the grocery store. Is this not an unfair economic burden for our poorest citizens?
It has been my experience as a dentist that 80 percent of the decay is found in 20 percent of the population.
Why then are we medicating 100 percent of the population if only 20 percent need it? Also, when I prescribe medication to children, I have to know the weight of the child and calculate the dose required. There is no dose-specific calculation being done in our water treatment facilities. In fact, I would argue that children, who are much more active than adults, are getting more fluoride simply due to the fact that they drink more. Pound for pound, they are more likely to be over-medicated.
Let’s take the example of Kentucky, the only state that has 100 percent fluoridation in municipal water supplies (for which the ADA gave them an award in 2003). Kentucky also has the highest rate of people with full dentures — 42 percent. How has fluoridated water helped the people of Kentucky?
Craig O’Donoghue, DDS
Fairbanks
Very good letter
posted by Bill at
10:35 AM
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