The story on fluoridation is making me think about my own dental history. In my early childhood, the house we lived in had a private water well and my sister and I had several cavities during that time (I’m not sure about my parents). When I was about 10 we moved to a home with city water. I’m realizing that our teeth got better around that same time. I know correlation doesn’t equal causation, but there might be something to it.
I think about the fact that dental care is not included in most health insurance plans and dental deserts all. the. time. My kids go to a Title 1 school, and I wonder how many of the behavior problems are caused by kids whose teeth hurt. Then, the inflammatory/other cascading health problems that come with poor oral hygiene. It's crazy to me that (in my community, we're having a big fight about whether or not to continue fluoridating the water) this little thing we could do to prevent so much suffering is so controversial! -Maggie
I do a lot of work on the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana. If there is a dentist available pople wait in line for 12 hours to be seen. The data we ran recently showed that 85% of school children in the community have untreated dental caries. But we don't want folks to have a simple, population level intervention to prevent cavities from having cavities in the first place? All so that rich people like RFK Jr feel like they aren't being "poisoned" without evidence. It infuriating, Maggie.
Anna, thanks for sharing the history of fluoridation. I especially enjoyed reading how people from different towns joined forces to solve the mystery. Sometimes it takes someone from outside a group/community to recognize an ‘it’s always been like that’ may not be the way it has to be.
I love to hear the history, but I think I'm not totally understanding what it is that RFK and others are afraid of. They think it's poisonous?
The story on fluoridation is making me think about my own dental history. In my early childhood, the house we lived in had a private water well and my sister and I had several cavities during that time (I’m not sure about my parents). When I was about 10 we moved to a home with city water. I’m realizing that our teeth got better around that same time. I know correlation doesn’t equal causation, but there might be something to it.
Flouridating drinking water lowers cavities by 25% in both children and adults. With the incredible high cost and lack of access to dental care in this country-this is prevention at its best! Make American Healthy Again is a scam if it focuses on reducing vaccines and flouridation. This will harm the most vulnerable among us and is the OPPOSITE of prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/about/index.html#:~:text=What%20the%20research%20shows,25%25%20in%20children%20and%20adults.
I think about the fact that dental care is not included in most health insurance plans and dental deserts all. the. time. My kids go to a Title 1 school, and I wonder how many of the behavior problems are caused by kids whose teeth hurt. Then, the inflammatory/other cascading health problems that come with poor oral hygiene. It's crazy to me that (in my community, we're having a big fight about whether or not to continue fluoridating the water) this little thing we could do to prevent so much suffering is so controversial! -Maggie
I do a lot of work on the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana. If there is a dentist available pople wait in line for 12 hours to be seen. The data we ran recently showed that 85% of school children in the community have untreated dental caries. But we don't want folks to have a simple, population level intervention to prevent cavities from having cavities in the first place? All so that rich people like RFK Jr feel like they aren't being "poisoned" without evidence. It infuriating, Maggie.
Anna, thanks for sharing the history of fluoridation. I especially enjoyed reading how people from different towns joined forces to solve the mystery. Sometimes it takes someone from outside a group/community to recognize an ‘it’s always been like that’ may not be the way it has to be.
Loved the short history on fluoridation. Thanks!
I remember doing that in elementary school as well - the little sealed cups going around for a swish!