Do you drink your tap water?\u00a0 If not, why not? Is fluoride, perhaps, one of your concerns?<\/p>\n
Many cities add fluoride to their water supply because it strengthens teeth.\u00a0 The controversy is over what else fluoride does that is not so desirable.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a fluoride war in Albuquerque right now.\u00a0 The Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority is proposing to put fluoride back into the water supply after removing it a few years ago.\u00a0 Passions are high.<\/p>\n
While the Albuquerque issue is local, the fluoride question affects all communities.<\/p>\n
According to Rudy Blea of the Office of Oral Health in the New Mexico Health Department, the following communities have adjusted water systems to accommodate the appropriate levels of fluoride:\u00a0 Chama, Cimarron, Cuba, Estancia, Farmington, Los Alamos, Milan, Pecos, Raton, Ruidoso, Santa Fe, Santa Rosa, Springer, Taos, Villanueva, and White Sands.\u00a0These communities add supplemental fluoride to naturally-occurring fluoride to bring the level up to an accepted standard.\u00a0 Other communities don\u2019t fluoridate, either because naturally occurring fluoride levels are high enough or because they choose not to.<\/p>\n
Is fluoride a solution to New Mexico\u2019s well-publicized lack of access to dental care?\u00a0 That depends whom you ask.\u00a0 Both sides were out in force at a recent hearing of the water board in Albuquerque.<\/p>\n
Pro-fluoride advocates say, in effect, that fluoride is good for teeth; the studies show in the right quantities it\u2019s not harmful to human health; and our communities have a dental health problem.\u00a0 Watch that \u201cright quantities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The anti-fluoride argument is more complicated.\u00a0 A few major points:<\/p>\n
–Fluoride is beneficial when applied topically to teeth \u2013 not swallowed.<\/p>\n
–Fluoride is the only health remedy that is forced on the whole population with no control of dosing.<\/p>\n
–Fluoride in higher doses is toxic.\u00a0 Among other things, it reportedly affects the brain and reduces intelligence.<\/p>\n
–The toxicity is cumulative, may take a long time to build up, and may be \u00a0complicated by other toxic substances in food and the environment.<\/p>\n
–If mothers feed powdered formula to their babies, they are overdosing the babies if they mix the formula with fluoridated water.<\/p>\n
Both sides cite stacks of studies, some proving fluoride is safe and others proving it isn\u2019t.\u00a0 The most up-to-date studies seem to support the anti-fluoride position, including studies from China that show lower IQ in children exposed to fluoride.<\/p>\n
So much public comment has poured in that the water board has scheduled a special town hall meeting on the issue.\u00a0 Tentative date is April 9.<\/p>\n
After the recent hearing, one board member, County Commissioner Art de la Cruz, announced he had already made up his mind.\u00a0 In a statement, he said, \u201cI cannot support adding fluoride to our water. While there are two sides in this matter, what is clear is that it is not clear.\u00a0 \u2026 \u00a0I would prefer to give free toothpaste to children who cannot afford it than force everyone to ingest fluoride.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ironically, some authorities believe a substantial percentage of New Mexico residents \u2013 numbers unknown \u2013 aren\u2019t drinking their local water anyway. \u00a0They\u2019re drinking bottled water. Even Rudy Blea thinks that.<\/p>\n
The Office of Oral Health has a number of programs to help low-income children and adults, including education and dental services such as sealants.\u00a0 This being New Mexico, the programs are underfunded and don\u2019t reach everyone who needs them.<\/p>\n
The water pipes of ancient Rome\u2019s famous aqueducts were made of lead.\u00a0 Lead is toxic and affects the brain, and some historians think that was the cause of the fall of the Empire. \u00a0Our society is experiencing exploding rates of autism, auto-immune diseases and other health conditions we can\u2019t explain.\u00a0 \u00a0As long as we don\u2019t know, I vote for toothpaste, which we spit out.\u00a0 And more funding for oral health programs, and figuring out how to get dental therapists into every community.<\/p>\n
Triple Spaced Again, \u00a9 New Mexico News Services 2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Do you drink your tap water?\u00a0 If not, why not? Is fluoride, perhaps, one of your concerns? Many cities add fluoride to their water supply because it strengthens teeth.\u00a0 The controversy is over what else fluoride does that is not … Continue reading