Presenting more facts about fluoride?
Presenting more facts about fluoride
Posted: Wednesday, Mar 19th, 2008
Dear Editor,
These are a few more fluoridation facts that you omitted from my last week’s letter to the editor:
n What is fluoride? It is a naturally occurring element - the 13th most abundant element in the earth’s crust - essential for forming healthy teeth and bones and a natural component of teeth, and bones and is found in all foods.
n The fluoride ion is a highly charged ion that attaches to the crystalline matrix of teeth and bone. It strengthens tooth structure from a hydroxyappetite crystal to fluorappetite crystal, making it very resistant to break down by acids and thus preventing decay.
n Fluoride occurs in varying levels in ground water and surface waters from almost no fluoride to 10 parts per million (ppm).
n Bartlett, Texas, has 8 ppm and Cameron, Texas, has 0.04 ppm. Studies from these two towns show no difference in longevity or health of the two populations, and one study showed no difference in body dissections of organ systems post mortem.
n Since the introduction of adjusting fluoride levels 60 years ago into public water systems, it continues to be the single most safe and most cost effective way to prevent tooth decay.
n It is the most safe and most cost effective public health project ever done.
n For each $1 spent on fluoridation, $50 is saved on dental care, which includes our own dental care and what we pay for in taxes through our welfare dental care programs.
n Over 100 national and international organizations recognize and promote this public health benefit, including the American Dental Association, American Medical Association, American Cancer Society, American Pediatric Association and World Health Organization, to name a few. Locally, Rotary and all dentists, to name a few, have endorsed this great public service.
n Fluoridation is especially effective for our lower socio-economic population and those who tend not to care for their oral health as well.
n Today, 170 million people in the U.S. have publicly fluoridated water. That’s about two-thirds of the population.
n Studies show that averages of 50-65 percent decrease in dental decay can be expected. In Liberty, Mo., in 1955, 70 percent of school age children had decay and fluoridation began. In 1980, 17 percent of school age children had decay after 25 years of public fluoridation.
n Adults benefit as well. With age and mouth drying medications, decay on tooth root surfaces increases. Fluoridation is very effective against this adult type of decay.
n The National Research Council has stated that “like zinc, iron and other minerals, fluoride is an important trace element.”
n So, how do we get water fluoridation levels adjusted in Torrington? Before our new water system was completed we would have needed injectors at each well site. Now it is simple, with only one point of injection needed. Total installation costs for injection systems in similar sized communities are around $15,000.
n The average cost to operate the system in municipalities of our size is 50 cents per person per year.
Hopefully if people read this letter and last week’s letter, they’ll have all the facts I’ve presented. Again, congratulations to the city council on a great public service project.
Dr. Tim Pieper,
Torrington
Very convincing but do we believe it? Is it the whole "tooth"? No.
Posted: Wednesday, Mar 19th, 2008
Dear Editor,
These are a few more fluoridation facts that you omitted from my last week’s letter to the editor:
n What is fluoride? It is a naturally occurring element - the 13th most abundant element in the earth’s crust - essential for forming healthy teeth and bones and a natural component of teeth, and bones and is found in all foods.
n The fluoride ion is a highly charged ion that attaches to the crystalline matrix of teeth and bone. It strengthens tooth structure from a hydroxyappetite crystal to fluorappetite crystal, making it very resistant to break down by acids and thus preventing decay.
n Fluoride occurs in varying levels in ground water and surface waters from almost no fluoride to 10 parts per million (ppm).
n Bartlett, Texas, has 8 ppm and Cameron, Texas, has 0.04 ppm. Studies from these two towns show no difference in longevity or health of the two populations, and one study showed no difference in body dissections of organ systems post mortem.
n Since the introduction of adjusting fluoride levels 60 years ago into public water systems, it continues to be the single most safe and most cost effective way to prevent tooth decay.
n It is the most safe and most cost effective public health project ever done.
n For each $1 spent on fluoridation, $50 is saved on dental care, which includes our own dental care and what we pay for in taxes through our welfare dental care programs.
n Over 100 national and international organizations recognize and promote this public health benefit, including the American Dental Association, American Medical Association, American Cancer Society, American Pediatric Association and World Health Organization, to name a few. Locally, Rotary and all dentists, to name a few, have endorsed this great public service.
n Fluoridation is especially effective for our lower socio-economic population and those who tend not to care for their oral health as well.
n Today, 170 million people in the U.S. have publicly fluoridated water. That’s about two-thirds of the population.
n Studies show that averages of 50-65 percent decrease in dental decay can be expected. In Liberty, Mo., in 1955, 70 percent of school age children had decay and fluoridation began. In 1980, 17 percent of school age children had decay after 25 years of public fluoridation.
n Adults benefit as well. With age and mouth drying medications, decay on tooth root surfaces increases. Fluoridation is very effective against this adult type of decay.
n The National Research Council has stated that “like zinc, iron and other minerals, fluoride is an important trace element.”
n So, how do we get water fluoridation levels adjusted in Torrington? Before our new water system was completed we would have needed injectors at each well site. Now it is simple, with only one point of injection needed. Total installation costs for injection systems in similar sized communities are around $15,000.
n The average cost to operate the system in municipalities of our size is 50 cents per person per year.
Hopefully if people read this letter and last week’s letter, they’ll have all the facts I’ve presented. Again, congratulations to the city council on a great public service project.
Dr. Tim Pieper,
Torrington
Very convincing but do we believe it? Is it the whole "tooth"? No.
posted by Bill at
9:49 AM
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