Corvallis Gazette Times – April 10, 2007
Water fluoridation edit based in myth
I am disappointed. It appears that our editor is using the same old scare tactics against water fluoridation.
The annual cost of water fluoridation runs between 50 cents and $3. For every dollar invested in water fluoridation, about $38 in dental treatment is saved. This is especially important for today’s children, where tooth decay is the most common disease.
Compared with communities without water fluoridation in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, communities with water fluoridation have 15-40 percent less tooth decay.
The information attempting to link water fluoridation with bone cancer comes from a graduate student paper reporting on the first three years of a 15-year study. At 7 years in the study, there was no correlation. The director of this study, Dr. Chester Douglass, has said that the study fails to show a link between fluoridation and bone cancer. Naturally, this study has been examined rigorously by many oncologists, including Dr. Donald Austin of OHSU, who has found no connection between fluoridation and bone cancer.
Our editor’s waving the flag of “unfunded mandate” is particularly annoying, since the bill specifies that no public money will be spent on implementing water fluoridation. Rather, the money needed will come from grants as was done last year in Port Angeles, Wash.
As a dentist, I see the effect of water fluoridation on tooth decay. Withholding this proven public health measure from Oregonians in unconscionable. There are few measures that are as safe, effective and economical as water fluoridation.
Jan Peterson
Corvallis
