Alberta Green Market - Navigating You To A Greener Lifestyle

Recently, Calgary city council decided to stop treating the city water with fluoride.  It is important to look into the debate of fluoridation before other cities, like Edmonton, Lethbridge and Red Deer follow suit.  The main reasons to stop fluoridation were:

1.     The health risk of children getting fluorosis (mottling of the teeth),

2.     annual savings of $650,000 of the continuous addition of fluoride, and

3.     the avoidance of a capital/equipment upgrade of $7 million.

These are very important reasons.  Of course we don’t want our children to have permanently disfigured teeth and we would love to save some money on taxes, right?  But why was fluoridation started in the first place?

Through serendipity, it was found that people who drank water with naturally occurring fluoride in their drinking water had significantly less cavities.  Following this discovery, many jurisdictions have added fluoride to their water to help improve the oral health of their populations.  However, it was also found that if concentrations were too high (approx. 4 ppm), permanent teeth disfigurement was observed in the emergence of children’s adult teeth.  So regulations are in place to ensure fluoridation is at an acceptable level (0.7-1.2 ppm) will help with the strengthening of teeth while not increasing the risk of fluorosis.

It seems like a great idea to add the fluoride, but it is seen by some to be a means to mass medicate the population.  Do we take antibiotics when we are not sick?  Do we take aspirin just in case we get a headache?  So why drink fluoridated water to prevent cavities?

It is possible to get fluoride from other places like toothpaste, cow’s milk, fruit juice and Canadian teas.  If you have a dental plan, then you can get fluoride treatments applied to the surface of your teeth during your annual visit to the dentist.  This last alternative is only good if you regularly visit the dentist and not only go when a problem arises.  Ultimately, you can make the choice where and when you get your fluoride and how much of it you want.  However, it is now a direct cost you or to your dental plan if you have one.

In theory, I like the idea of not having things added to my water that have the potential of affecting my health.  Honestly, my biggest fluoride concern was whether my kids swallowed any toothpaste without me knowing (so far their teeth are looking good).  I do see the merit of the fluoridation of the water for a number of reasons.  First, there is documented proof it improves strength of teeth.  Second, it is relatively cheap cost to the consumer.  In the case of Calgary, it is less than $1 for each person per year and only about $8 total for one year if you consider the upgrade.  Look at your invoice the next time you go to the dentist, I assure you that your fluoride treatment is much more than $8.  Third, fluoride treatments are only effective if you go to the dentist, or rather; get a cleaning from the hygienist.  It does not appear to be a money grab by the dentists, as they officially encourage municipalities to add fluoride to the water.

I think the benefits of responsible fluoridation outweigh the cost of the treatment.  I see this change in operations as a way to download the cost to the consumer.

Kyle Rice