Oregon Public Broadcasting – January 11, 2007

Dental Groups Want Mandatory Water Fluoridation

By Chris Lehman

A coalition of dental groups is pushing a bill that would put fluoride in tap water across much of Oregon.

The groups say fluoride in water cuts down on dental problems.

The bill would require water systems with more than 10,000 customers to fluoridate their water.

April Love is a dentist with the group backing the measure.

April Love: "Fluoridating public water supplies is safe, it works, and it's by far the most economical way to prevent tooth decay. It's been extensively studied and is widely accepted with about 170 million people in the United States drinking fluoridated water."

Similar bills in the past have faced fierce opposition.

About 20 percent of Oregon communities supply fluoridated water. That places the state near the bottom of the national rankings. About half of Washington and Idaho communities provide fluoridated water.