Monks Jazz Club
Against Fluoride
RECEIVED Tue., Feb. 27, 2007
Dear Editor,
The American Dental Association, in a startling about-face, now says fluoridated water should not be used to mix baby cereals and formula.
The Austin City Council approved buying a three-year supply of chemicals for fluoridation for more than $1 million in late January … on the consent agenda.
I am greatly concerned that most people in and around Austin do not know that the tap water is fluoridated and is no longer deemed good for young children.
The fall-back position for fluoride fans usually is that fluoride is the most “cost-effective” way to provide dental care to people who would otherwise have none at all. The ADA has not noticed that these are the people they are now telling to spend money in the grocery store to buy water from which fluoride has been removed.
People must understand that proper doses of a drug cannot be individualized and delivered through the general water supply, that a single medication cannot be appropriate for everyone, and each individual, not a city, must make a personal decision about what he or she ingests.
I hope the Chronicle will help inform the public about the continuing presence of fluoride in our water supply and urge the council to stop fluoridation. It should be easy to close the right valve … for free.
The American Dental Association, in a startling about-face, now says fluoridated water should not be used to mix baby cereals and formula.
The Austin City Council approved buying a three-year supply of chemicals for fluoridation for more than $1 million in late January … on the consent agenda.
I am greatly concerned that most people in and around Austin do not know that the tap water is fluoridated and is no longer deemed good for young children.
The fall-back position for fluoride fans usually is that fluoride is the most “cost-effective” way to provide dental care to people who would otherwise have none at all. The ADA has not noticed that these are the people they are now telling to spend money in the grocery store to buy water from which fluoride has been removed.
People must understand that proper doses of a drug cannot be individualized and delivered through the general water supply, that a single medication cannot be appropriate for everyone, and each individual, not a city, must make a personal decision about what he or she ingests.
I hope the Chronicle will help inform the public about the continuing presence of fluoride in our water supply and urge the council to stop fluoridation. It should be easy to close the right valve … for free.
Yours truly,
J.J. Jacobson
J.J. Jacobson
[Editor's note: In November, the ADA issued an “interim guidance” on potentially excessive fluoridation in infants from birth to 12 months, to avoid “enamel fluorosis” – light discoloration of tooth enamel. The guidance recommends breast milk and avoiding overreliance on tap water in mixed formula.]
