Fluoride to be Added to Tap Water

Apparently, the Metropolitan Water District, which sells water to our very own Eastern Municipal Water District, will be adding fluoride to the water.

According to the Press Enterprise, last week...

Some tap water has natural levels of fluoride, and beginning in October, the Metropolitan Water District, which serves much of the Inland area, will begin to fluoridate its water, a measure to help reduce tooth decay.

The Press Enterprise article mentioned this as part of a report on increasing frequency of children with tooth decay problems. The article didn't necessarily cite unfluoridated tap water as the problem, but rather, eating too much sweets, and not enough teeth brushing.

Fluoridated tap water is something I grew up with, and while I never had a cavity in my life (yes it's true), I credit frequent tooth brushing as my dental savior. Looking back at my childhood in the 1970s and 80s, it seems like all I ever ate was candy, soda, ice cream, pastries, and anything else that ruins teeth. And all my friends ate this stuff too. I don't think kids today are eating any worse than 30 years ago.

If anything, parents are not placing enough importance on health and fitness, which includes dental care. Brushing my teeth twice a day was the absolute minimum my mother would tolerate, and then she'd complain that I brushed them too quickly.

Personally, the idea of a "quasi-government agency" trying to address an epidemic by adding chemicals to the water gets into that "Orwellian" thing. There are quite many people who will tell you that fluoride in the water is actually dangerous. Check out "Fluoride Action Alert".

The Metropolitan Water District is a pretty large district. They provide water to much of Southern California. It's pretty hard to avoid them. The soda fountain at any restaurant around here, is using their water, for example.

If you like fluoridated water, then take heart. If you don't, then I guess you'll have to head for the hills.