this post was submitted on 14 Apr 2024

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As bans spread, fluoride in drinking water divides communities across the US (kffhealthnews.org)

submitted 2 years ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

370 comments fedilink hide all child comments

…

It is a scenario playing out nationwide. From Oregon to Pennsylvania, hundreds of communities have in recent years either stopped adding fluoride to their water supplies or voted to prevent its addition. Supporters of such bans argue that people should be given the freedom of choice. The broad availability of over-the-counter dental products containing the mineral makes it no longer necessary to add to public water supplies, they say. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that while store-bought products reduce tooth decay, the greatest protection comes when they are used in combination with water fluoridation.

The outcome of an ongoing federal case in California could force the Environmental Protection Agency to create a rule regulating or banning the use of fluoride in drinking water nationwide. In the meantime, the trend is raising alarm bells for public health researchers who worry that, much like vaccines, fluoride may have become a victim of its own success.

The CDC maintains that community water fluoridation is not only safe and effective but also yields significant cost savings in dental treatment. Public health officials say removing fluoride could be particularly harmful to low-income families — for whom drinking water may be the only source of preventive dental care.

“If you have to go out and get care on your own, it’s a whole different ballgame,” said Myron Allukian Jr., a dentist and past president of the American Public Health Association. Millions of people have lived with fluoridated water for years, “and we’ve had no major health problems,” he said. “It’s much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it.”

According to the anti-fluoride group Fluoride Action Network, since 2010, over 240 communities around the world have removed fluoride from their drinking water or decided not to add it.

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[–] randon31415@lemmy.world 38 points 2 years ago (3 children)

This sounds like that Simpsons episode where the school board votes down the "free recharging of fire extinguishers". They aren't even saying that their might be problems with floride, they just want choice for the option of choices sake. What is next, freedom to push your children into traffic?

[–] PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

they just want choice for the option of choices sake.

This is a common talking point for people who can’t otherwise justify their position. It’s the “because I said so” of arguing. You see it a lot with far right talking points, where they’ll frame it as freedom of choice, when it’s really just an excuse to pander to conspiracy theorists, the extremely religious, racists, homophobes, etc…

“The civil war wasn’t about slavery; it was about states’ rights.”

“If I want to refuse service to a gay couple, that should be my choice.”

“If I want to refuse service to a mixed race couple, that should be my choice.”

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (2 children)

For some reason, they never came around on the Pro-Choice movement, though

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

If I want to prevent your abortion, that should be my choice. "My" being the operative word, they're incredibly selfish. (Oh, and should the situation arise, "My abortion is the only justified abortion.")

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

“My abortion is the only justified abortion.”

Practically a one-to-one correlation between pro-life politicians and pregnant sex workers forced to get abortions.

[–] BreakDecks@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago

But that was choices for women, who Conservatives have been clear that they view as property.

[–] desktop_user@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 2 years ago

Children yearn for the streets; It has been far too long since it was commonplace for them to beg for bread, freezing in the cold, yearning for Scrooge's pocketbook.

[–] irreticent@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

But, but, but... states rights.