Pevely, MO axes fluoride in public water

[Sherman A1]

PEVELY • Adding fluoride to public drinking water is among the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but city officials in Pevely say the cost — $8,000 to $10,000 a year — is too high.
The cash-strapped city ran out of fluoride to add to its water supply at the end of last month and isn't buying more, despite protests from dentists and the Jefferson County Health Department.
"We're like every town that's struggling financially," said City Administrator Jason Eisenbeis. "We can't continue to do more with less."
And while many, if not most, cities are searching for ways to trim costs, fluoride programs elsewhere have avoided being chopped. But less fluoride is being added to water supplies in many places after a new federal recommendation.
"We're concerned we may see more of these things happening because everyone's struggling for money," said Dennis Diehl, director of the Jefferson County Health Department.


Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/5b692ada-010d-56ef-a91c-3788d137e05a.html#ixzz1xTSX6PJz

A sign of the times?

[Posteritatis]

1. I suppose it's better than their claiming it's a mind control chemical, but still, ugh. (nt)

[Dokkie]

2. People still drink

Tap water?

[Skidmore]

3. Some of us actually drink well water from the tap.

How many critters do you think are possibly in a bottle of water that has been sitting on a shelf for a period of time? Besides, those bottles are filled from a tap. You may want to read this article.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/03/000322090356.htm

[NutmegYankee]

4. Why wouldn't you?

[MadHound]

8. People still buy water?

Despite study after study showing that bottled water is no better than tap water? Despite the all of the waste that bottled water creates? Despite the fact that most bottled water is nothing more than tap water?

Are you still drinking bottled water? Congratulations, you're part of the problem.

[Wounded Bear]

21. I still drink some bottled water.....

but then I refill the bottle and chill it several times before it goes in the recycle bin.

[jp11]

23. I'm part of that problem and you are part of another problem, congratulations.

If you are wondering what I mean let me explain there is something you do that other people don't do or do do that is 'better' than you not doing it or you doing it.

No one does everything 'right' in every other person's view.

[MadHound]

24. Well, there is no logical reason for you to be buying bottled water

Unless your water supply is somehow horribly tainted to the point that a simple home filtration system can't take of. Given the outstanding water quality in this country as a whole, I seriously doubt that is the case.

So why do you buy bottled water? Why do you spend good money on a product that you don't need, a product that wastes energy and resources?

Yes, there are things that people do that aren't "right", but most intelligent, sane people eliminate the obviously stupid ones from their life, and bottled water ranks right up there as obviously stupid. So why buy it? Save yourself some money, be a bit kinder to our Earth.

[Dokkie]

29. Oh no

I just don't drink regular bottled water, I drink distilled water and believe you me, you cant taste the difference.

[jberryhill]

10. Bottled water is the scam of the century

And an environmental nightmare.

[Dokkie]

30. I buy distilled water

which I hope is without any minerals or disinfectants

[jberryhill]

31. Well that's a silly thing to do

Water is supposed to have minerals in it. We evolved to drink water with minerals in it, and our bodies need those minerals.

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutdemineralized.pdf

The possible health consequences of low mineral content water consumption are discussed in the following categories:
• Direct effects on the intestinal mucous membrane, metabolism and mineral homeostasis or other body functions.
• Practically zero calcium and magnesium intake.
• Low intake of other essential elements and microelements.
• Loss of calcium, magnesium and other essential elements in prepared food.
• Possible increased dietary intake of toxic metals leached from water pipe.
• Possible bacterial re-growth.

[Recursion]

12. In most towns it's safer and cleaner than bottled water (nt)

[YellowRubberDuckie]

15. In El Reno OK...

...they barely recommend allowing your children to BATHE in their water. If you drink it, you will get kidney stones. The water is GROSS. And it smells GROSS coming out of the tap.

[pintobean]

5. It does seem like a lot of waste

given the tiny percentage of tap water that is drank. Most of that fluoride goes down the drain or gets soaked into lawns.

[nyscof]

6. Fluoride in Water Harmful, Ineffective, Wa$teful, studies show

Fluoridation Opposition is Scientific, Respectable & Growing

More than 4,038 professionals (including 331 dentists and 518 MD’s) urge that fluoridation be stopped citing scientific evidence that ingesting fluoride is ineffective at reducing tooth decay and has serious health risks. See statement: http://www.fluoridealert.org/professionals-statement.aspx

Eleven US EPA unions representing over 7000 environmental and public health professionals are calling for a moratorium on fluoridation.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that 60% of 12-15 year-olds are affected with fluoride overdose symptoms – dental fluorosis, white spotted, yellow, brown and/or pitted teeth. Yet, tooth decay crises are occurring in all fluoridated cities, states and countries. See: http://www.FluorideNews.blogspot.com

Emergency rooms are flooded with people in dental pain, costing taxpayers millions of dollars, because 80% of dentists refuse Medicaid patients, 130 million Americans don’t have dental insurance. Many of those that do can’t afford dentistry’s high out-of-pocket costs. No American is or ever was fluoride-deficient. Too many are dentist-deficient.

The CDC reports that 326 less communities adjusted for fluoride between 2006 and 2010. Communities that stopped fluoridation are here: http://www.FluorideAction.Net/communities.htm

[SidDithers]

9. Uh-huh...

Sid

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Same argument the tea party uses

Congratulations.

[laundry_queen]

18. Of course dentists want fluoridation to be stopped.

Think of the profits!

signed,
Someone who lived in 3 places with no fluoride and had children with severe decay problems because of it.

PS. if the dentists agree to give all kids, for free, regular fluoride varnish (not treatments, varnish) every 3 months, then I will consider it may be better to paint it on their teeth than to ingest it. Until then it just looks like a cash grab for the dentists.

[FarCenter]

20. An Evolutionary Theory of Dentistry

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/336/6084/973.full

In Europe, less than 10% of individuals had cavities until Alexander the Great brought sugar to Greece in the 4th century B.C.E., according to earlier studies, says pediatric dentist Kevin Boyd of Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Cavities increased first in Greece, then Rome; their incidence also rose throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. But the biggest spike was from 1800 to 1850, when Britain took control of the West Indies and imported far more sugar than previously. Sugar helped fuel the Industrial Revolution, which was a transition from an agriculture-based economy to a machine-based economy. In 1874, the British reduced the tax on sugar, and it became available to all social classes. “In London, mostly 1800 onwards, they have absolutely dreadful teeth,” Hillson says.

[phleshdef]

26. I don't believe many dentists think that way at all.

Dentists make plenty of profits from preventative care. And I know my dentist recommends everything he can to prevent me from needing root canals/crowns/etc. If dentists were that bad, they wouldn't bother to treat minor cavities. They'd just let your teeth rot to the point of needing more expensive treatment.

Theres reasonable cynicism and then theres conspiratorial nonsense. I think what you just said matches the latter.

[laundry_queen]

28. LOL.

Ever have a dentist refuse to give your kids, who have a history of decay, sealants because 'they didn't believe in them'?!

Not every dentist, no, but you have no idea how long it took me to find one that gave out sealants for kids. Even our local health unit dentistry nurse who works with kids at the most risk of decay was frustrated and kept a (small) list of those who WOULD.

You can call me a conspiracy theorist to try to discredit what I say, but I've been through enough dentists (dozens in total) who think this way. They were also the ones fighting fluoridation in our small towns (calling it poison, FFS). Just because YOU haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist or that I made it up. Jesus.

A small example of your 'profits from preventative care' nonsense as well. A 1.5 hour cleaning, x-rays, fluoride treatment for 1 child: $150. A 20 minute replacement of a filling for that same child: $300 SO much more profit in preventative care, sure there is.

[Dokkie]

33. I serously doubt it

My dentist in midtown Omaha is so busy that if you miss an appointment, it takes you 2 weeks to reschedule a new one and if you miss 3 appointments, you are permanently banned from coming to that particular branch. If you think these people arent getting enough business then you haven't been to a dental clinic lately

[RZM]

32. Put together, your links sound kind of funny

'Fluoride Alert,' 'Fluoride News,' and 'Fluoride Action.'

I've got some ideas for some other names though:

'The Truth About Fluoride'
'101 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Fluoride But Were Afraid to Ask'
'What to Expect when you're Expecting Fluoride'
'Fluoride for Dummies'
'If Not Having Fluoride is Wrong, I Don't Wanna be Right'
'Fluo-Rida'


Seriously though. Your post is bullshit.

[Prometheus Bound]

7. Isn't fluoride in most toothpastes anyway these days?

You want it on your teeth, not in your stomach. So who cares if it's not in the water.

[Recursion]

11. Mandrake, we cannot allow communists to sap and impurify our precious bodily fluids...

[Blue_Tires]

22. thanks for this

i wasn't in the mood to post it for the 900th time...

[Sherman A1]

25. Precisely

Well Said!

[wsx111]

14. Spam deleted by OKNancy (MIR Team)

[PotatoChip]

16. Hey! I drink bottled water. Nothing wrong with that.

Ironically, it's from the same water source that Nestle Co. (bottled water division) uses, but it comes from my tap. And the bottle I use is an old soda bottle that I just keep washing out and refilling- from my faucet. Yum. Good stuff!

Ha! Made you look.

[FarCenter]

17. Given the population and demographics, about $5 / year per person under 25 years old

Marginally worthwhile and probably not necessary given flouridated toothpastes.

[snooper2]

19. Ah, my old stomping grounds

Another one of the reasons I left Missery as soon as possible

[Bake]

27. Welcome to Third World America.

Land of the free. Home of the brave. My ass!

Bake