Utah enacts legislation outlawing the addition of fluoride in public water supply systems, breaking precedent as initial state to introduce such a prohibition.
Host: AYESHA RASCOE, SETTING THE STAGE:
It's a contentious issue that's dividing dental professionals and public health advocates alike - the addition of fluoride to public drinking water. Utah, we got ya! The Beehive State is now the first in the nation to outlaw this practice, following the enactment of a new law last week. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, has thrown his support behind this move, questioning the safety of fluoride. But pediatric dentists in Utah are raising the alarm, warning that this ban could lead to a decline in oral health, particularly among children. James Bekker, a pediatric dentist and associate dean at the University of Utah School of Dentistry, joins us to lay it all out. Let'
James Bekker: WEIGHING IN ON THE ISSUE:
Welcome to the program!
Host: HOWFLUORIDE HELPS YOUR TEETH:
So, let's kick this off - what's the deal with adding fluoride to drinking water? When it's present in a recommended, minuscule dose in the water, as teeth are forming in young children, the enamel surface of the teeth becomes harder and more resistant to tooth decay. Fluoride also lends a helping hand topically - in toothpaste and mouthwash. This allows for a stronger enamel that's less susceptible to tooth decay during the formative period of young children.
Host: WANNEMISSUTAH:
What was your reaction when you heard the bill got passed?
James Bekker: THE STATE OF UTAH AND DENTAL HEALTH:
Great disappointment was my first response. In Utah, about half of the state has had community water fluoridation, and the other half has not. And in Utah, just like in other areas of the country, where we have fluoride in the water, we see a lower cavity rate, a lower rate of tooth decay. Consider this: dental caries is the number one reason children miss school in our country. A higher rate of tooth decay among children is concerning.
Host: FLUORIDE VS. IQ:
Critics of fluoridation argue that ingesting the mineral correlates with lower IQ. Any truth to that?
James Bekker: NOT SO FAST:
Those who oppose fluoride in the water cite studies with flawed data. These studies use fluoride concentrations at much higher levels than the recommended dose. But there are no credible studies showing that fluoride in the water at recommended dosages has any negative health effects.
Host: FLAVOUR OF CHOICE:
The fluoride skeptics argue that it should be a choice - like, if you choose to have fluoride in your toothpaste, then you can do that. If you don't, that's your choice. Is that enough to reap the benefits of fluoride, just getting toothpaste with fluoride in it?
James Bekker: NOT QUITE:
There's a significant population of underserved children who have limited access to healthcare. These are the vulnerable populations where removing fluoride from the water will have the largest negative impact. Putting chlorine in our water for health benefits, to purify our water, is not a choice issue. Nobody challenges that. Chlorine is a naturally occurring element. Fluoride is, too, and at a very small, recommended dose, it benefits our health.
Host: CHOOSING FLUORIDE FOR YOUR KIDDO:
If you have a child, how can you ensure they get more fluoride? I mean, little babies can't even get their teeth brushed, and they can't have regular toothpaste and stuff.
James Bekker: FLUORIDE SUPPLEMENTS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION:
Right. So, if you're in a community that doesn't have fluoride in the water, and you have to do fluoride supplements, you don't do anything from birth to six months, and then at that point, you use fluoride drops. Partners across Utah are working to educate the public and help them understand what needs to happen now with fluoride out of the water, how they can access supplements, and what the proper dosages are.
Host: FLUORIDE FROM TOOTHBRUSHING:
Can you get that from just brushing your teeth? That seems like a lot of extra work for families.
James Bekker: IT'S THE SYSTEMIC BENEFIT:
The systemic benefit is crucial. It has to be in the system to get to the teeth that are forming. For example, a 3-year-old has baby teeth, yes, but they have permanent teeth that are in the bone forming. You can't brush those permanent teeth in a 3-year-old that are down in the bone. You've got to get the fluoride to them in a systemic way.
Host: THAT'S A WRAP:
That's James Bekker, a pediatric dentist and associate dean at the University of Utah School of Dentistry. Thanks for joining us, Dr. Bekker!
James Bekker: PLEASURE TALKING WITH YOU:
Wonderful to be with you. Thanks so much.
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Source:Benefits of Adding Fluoride to Public Drinking Water:
- Reduction in Tooth Decay
- Preventive Dental Care
- Developmental Benefits for Children
Potential Health Effects and Concerns as Discussed by James Bekker:
- Dental Health Outcomes
- Alternatives to Community Water Fluoridation for Parents
- The removal of fluoride from public drinking water, as seen in Utah, raises concerns for pediatric dentists like James Bekker, who warns of a potential decline in oral health, particularly among children.
- James Bekker emphasizes that community water fluoridation plays a significant role in reducing tooth decay and dental caries, which is the number one reason children miss school in the U.S.
- The benefits of adding fluoride to public drinking water extend beyond topical applications in toothpaste and mouthwash, offering systemic benefits that are crucial for the development of children's teeth.
