Tooth decay
To the editor:
Water fluoridation is the practice of adding industrial-grade fluoride chemicals to water for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. One of the little known facts about this practice is that the United States, which fluoridates over 70 percent of its water supplies, has more people drinking fluoridated water than the rest of the world combined. Most developed nations, including all of Japan and 97 percent of Western Europe, do not fluoridate their water. China and India have banned it. In the United States, the Oral Health Division of the Centers Disease Control (CDC) hails fluoridation as one of the “top ten public health achievements of the 20th century.” However, comprehensive data from the World Health Organization reveals that there is no discernible difference in tooth decay between the minority of western nations that fluoridate water, and the majority that do not. In fact, the tooth decay rates in many non-fluoridated countries are now lower than the tooth decay rates in fluoridated ones. In the U.S. non-fluoridated cities have equal or lower rates of tooth decay than cities that do and without fluorisis.
As is becoming increasingly clear, fluoridating water supplies is an outdated, unnecessary, and dangerous relic from a 1950s public health culture that view mass distribution of chemicals much differently than scientists do today.
Please stop to sign our petitions in Bokeelia at Capt’n Cons, The Grab Bag, & Jug Creak Marina in St James City, at St James General Store & Salon L A. At the Center, Watson’s Liquor. On Stringfellow Rd. Pine Island Feed and Garden Center & Carl’s Auto. In Matlacha at Barnhill’s Restaurant, & MIMI’s Fashion next to Perfect Cup.
Fran Wolford
Citizen For Safe Water Inc