Dentists issue statement supporting fluoridated water

The Connecticut State Dental Association ( CSDA ) wants to make one thing clear: they support fluoridated water.

The dental association released a statement on Sept. 26 describing the benefits of putting fluoride in public water supplies. This came two days after a federal court ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate the impact of fluoridated water on public health.

The environmental and anti-fluoridated water advocacy group, Food & Water Watch , filed a lawsuit against the EPA in 2015 . It alleges that adding fluoride in public water puts people at an unnecessary risk for health problems.

The court decision states, “It should be noted that this finding does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health; rather… the Court finds there is an unreasonable risk of such injury, a risk sufficient to require EPA to engage with a regulatory response.”

It goes on to explain, “the chemical at issue need not be found hazardous at the exposure level to establish that a risk is present… Instead, the EPA requires a margin exists between the hazard level and exposure level to ensure safety; if there is an insufficient margin then the chemical poses a risk.”

Long term exposure to high levels of fluoride can cause joint pain and impact joint mobility, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

There are also benefits to fluoridated water. It helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevent decay. Specifically, it reduces tooth decay by around 25% in both adults and children, according to the CSDA’s press release.

“The cost of fluoridating water over a person’s lifetime is less than the cost of treating a single cavity,” stated CSDA President Dr. Steve Hall in the press release. “This week’s ruling reinforces the importance of the EPA’s commitment to ensuring that our community water fluoridation plans in Connecticut continue to deliver positive health outcomes for over 3 million residents. Fluoride does more than promote bright smiles; it fosters stronger teeth in both children and adults, contributing to overall health and longevity.”

An August report from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) found an association between high levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQs in children. The study surveyed communities in multiple Asian and North American countries—but not in the United States. It looked at total fluoride exposure, not just fluoride from drinking water.

The NTP report stated, “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 CSDA argues that fluoridating water is better for a child’s education.

“Studies indicate that children suffering from dental caries are nearly three times more likely to miss school due to dental pain compared to their peers with good oral health,” the release states. “This disparity is especially pronounced among children from low-income families, who face greater barriers to accessing dental care. Community water fluoridation serves as a powerful tool in addressing this public health challenge, providing equitable access to oral health benefits without imposing additional costs on individuals.”

Connecticut passed its first water fluoridation law in 1965 and since then, over 90% of the state’s population lives in a water system that has fluoride in the water.

The post Dentists issue statement supporting fluoridated water appeared first on Connecticut Inside Investigator .