BARTOW, Fla. — Bartow is a step closer to making a decision about the addition of fluoride to its municipal water after a well-attended Tuesday night workshop.
City commissioners heard from experts and opinion-holders on both sides of the debate, including Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s Surgeon General.
Dr. Ladapo is urging cities across Florida to stop fluoridating water because it may cause lower IQs and "neurobehavioral problems" in children.
Instead, he said kids can prevent tooth decay with “inexpensive” toothpaste and mouthwash.
“Considering what’s at stake and what we know now from the science, this is not complicated," Dr. Ladapo said, in part. “The costs from — in terms of human health — is far too high to be fooling around with this.”
According to the National Toxicology Program, "higher levels of fluoride, such as drinking water containing more than 1.5 mg/L, are associated with lower IQ in children." However, the NTP said the review analyzed total fluoride exposure and not the health effects of fluoride in drinking water.
"It is important to note, however, that there were insufficient data to determine if the low fluoride level of 0.7 mg/L currently recommended for U.S. community water supplies has a negative effect on children's IQ," the NTP said in its report.
Stand for Health Freedom has been active in helping remove fluoride from community water supplies throughout Florida.
“Studies show that fluoride’s benefit is topical. Ingesting fluoride is the problem. When you ingest this fluoride cyclic acid neurotoxin, this is when you have adverse events. The negative outcomes for the body like the reduction of IQ,” said Scott Kiley with Stand for Health Freedom.
Others, however, had a very different take.
Johnny Johnson, President of the American Fluoridation Society, said water fluoridation reduces cavities in children and adults by at least 25%. Cavities can not only cause tooth loss but lead to serious health issues, including infections and heart disease.
“That infection can get into your bloodstream. It can cause a brain abscess. It can cause you to have difficulty continuing to breathe because of swelling under your neck. It can get into your heart and cause an issue,” said Johnson.
A handful of dentists who practice in Polk County, including Dr. John Paul from Lakeland, also addressed commissioners.
“Fluoride is not magic. It doesn’t make all the cavities go away," said Dr. Paul, who is also President-elect of the Florida Dental Association. "But it helps.”
He supports keeping fluoride in water but only at an optimal level.
If fluoride is removed, he expects to see more young patients with tooth decay and other dental issues.
“I’ve seen places where people don’t have fluoride. And as I said earlier, I see one or two cavities per tooth, not one or two cavities per child," he said.
Bartow hopes to hear more thoughts from people before likely making a decision during a meeting on March 17.
In Polk County, Winter Haven, and Lake Alfred have already decided to stop fluoridating their water supplies. The City of Lakeland is also considering it.
Bartow spends about $20,000 annually to fluoridate the city’s water supply.
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