EXPLORING THE IMPACT
Pre-Read:
- Does access to dental care matter for a child? Why might children who don't have access to dental care suffer from more severe issues, and to what extent could these problems impact them even after they've grown up?
- Does your city add fluoride to the tap water? What reasons led to this practice being adopted in the first place, and what problems should your city keep a watchful eye on if it were to cease?
During-Read:
- What year did Calgary, Canada, discontinue the addition of fluoride in drinking water?
- Describe the chemical process by which fluoride fortifies tooth enamel in a concise manner.
- According to Lindsay McLaren's research, which Canadian city had a higher rate of tooth decay among second-graders: Edmonton or Calgary?
- What additional tooth decay-related problems were observed between Edmonton and Calgary in the 2024 study?
- The decision to cease water fluoridation in Juneau, Alaska, was left to how many commission members? What was the result of that vote?
- In a study of Medicaid claims, how did the average cost of dental care per child in Juneau change from 2003 to 2012, adjusted for inflation?
- What does it mean when researchers say two factors are "correlated"?
- The National Toxicology Program published a 2024 report drawing a correlation between fluoride and children's IQ levels. What two reasons did experts express concern over in regards to the way opponents of fluoridation presented this report's conclusions?
- How does correlation differ from causation?
- What percentage of Calgary residents voted in favor of reinstating water fluoridation in 2021?
Post-Read:
- Given your response to Question 1 in Pre-Read, do you believe water fluoridation programs are either more critical, equally important, or less crucial for children with access to dental care compared to those without such access?
- A person tasked with deciding whether to cease water fluoridation for their city's residents might be approached by an anti-fluoridation group that points to the 2024 report by the National Toxicology Program as evidence against fluoridation. How might the anti-fluoridation group attempt to instill fear in this decision-maker? List two specific fears that could be fostered by this approach, and assess how likely these fears are to guide the decision-maker towards a decision based on fear rather than science.
Enrichment:
Cessation of Water Fluoridation in Two Cities Leads to Deterioration of Children's Dental Health
While deliberating whether fluoride should be left out of public water sources, it's crucial to consider the potential consequences on children's dental health, as demonstrated by instances such as those in Calgary and Juneau. These concerns include:
Dental Issues
- Increased Tooth Decay: By eradicating fluoride, data suggests that there could be a significant rise in dental caries, by about 7.5 percentage points over five years, amassing a whopping 25.4 million additional cases of tooth decay in the U.S. [3][5]
- Higher Treatment Costs: The dental care expenses for addressing these increased tooth decay issues would increase as well, totaling around $9.8 billion over five years [3][5]
Health Concerns
- Untreated Tooth Decay Complications: If left untreated, tooth decay could lead to painful problems like infections and abscesses, escalating to sepsis [3]
- Disproportionate Impact: Children from low-income families and those dependent on public health insurance would bear the brunt of these dental health issues [3][5]
These examples from Calgary and Juneau underscore the significance of keeping fluoride levels in public water at the recommended levels, despite ongoing discussions about potential health risks associated with high exposure to fluoride.
- The chemical process of fluoride fortifying tooth enamel contributes to the health-and-wellness sector as it helps prevent tooth decay, which is a significant dental issue.
- In light of potential health risks associated with high exposure to fluoride, it's crucial to assess these risks within the context of science and health-and-wellness, rather than allowing fear-mongering to guide decisions without sufficient evidence.
