SHARE

Letter: Yorktown Should Continue Fluoridating Its Water

YORKTOWN, N.Y. — The Yorktown Daily Voice accepts signed, original letters to the editor. Letters may be emailed to yorktown@dailyvoice.com.

Letter to the Editor:

On Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m., the Yorktown Town Board will hold an information hearing on whether the town should continue its current practice of fluoridating its drinking water supply, something the town has been doing since 1965 without any controversy and without any problems to the public.

To date, 55 Yorktown dentists and pediatricians have communicated their support for fluoridation to the Town Board. From a public health perspective, continuing fluoridation is a win-win for our residents with stronger teeth and bones, less cavities and saving residents money overall. 

After 65 years of research involving thousands of studies published in respected scientific journals, the full weight of evidence indicates that fluoridation, when used at levels known to promote oral health, is effective in reducing dental decay and is safe.

These rigorous scientific studies have been conducted and peer reviewed by experts in the fields of oral health, medicine, biophysics, chemistry, toxicological pathology, and epidemiology.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called fluoridation one of the “great public health achievements of the 20th century.”  

Here are just some of the facts

  • As of 2010, 74 percent of the U.S. population received fluoridated drinking water.
  • 42 of the largest 50 cities in the US, including New York City, fluoridate their water supply.
  • Much of Westchester County fluoridates its water supply.
  • Studies have shown that fluoridation reduces tooth decay by 20 to 40 percent.
  • Fluoridation provides benefits to all age groups, including older adults.
  • Fluoride in toothpaste does not provide full protection against decay; fluoride in water builds on what’s in toothpaste.
  • Fluoridation offers the greatest return-on-investment of any public health strategy and provides savings to both governments and citizens.
  • In most cities, every $1 invested in fluoridation saves $38 in unnecessary dental treatment costs.
  • Fewer cavities reduce Medicaid costs, paid for by all county and state taxpayers.
  • Fewer cavities reduce out-of-pocket dental bills, especially for individuals and families without dental insurance and senior citizens on fixed incomes.
  • Adding fluoride to a public water supply costs taxpayers much less than having to pay for doctor prescribed fluoride supplements.

More information about the benefits and safety of fluoridation will be presented at the hearing. I hope you’ll be able to attend.

For more information, visit http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/fluoridation_facts.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/fact_sheets/cwf_qa.htm

Carl H. Tegtmeier, D.M.D.

Chairman, Dental Health Planning & Hospital Dentistry Committee, Ninth District Dental Association.

to follow Daily Voice Yorktown and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE