Cities to vote for community water fluoridation

Following recent developments in community water fluoridation, two Oregon cities are weighing whether to fluoridate their tap water.

A report from August examined the most up-to-date evidence on the benefits and risks of water fluoridation from over 70 studies and found that the practice could potentially be harmful to developing brains in utero when exposed to more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter, according to a news story from The Lund Report. As a result of the findings, some cities have begun to reevaluate the use of fluoridated tap water.

The two Oregon cities, Hillsboro and Lebanon, will hold a vote on whether to fluoridate their tap water. While Hillsboro will ask its residents whether to initiate community water fluoridation, residents in Lebanon will vote on whether to continue the fluoridation practices. Oregon ranks third lowest for community water fluoridation among the U.S. states.

However, proponents for community water fluoridation have argued that the recent study relied heavily on data from countries outside the United States and was unable to conclude that fluoridated water at a concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter was detrimental to the IQs of children. Advocates underscored that community water fluoridation is an effective strategy to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease among children in marginalized communities with limited access to oral health care, who often disproportionally experience dental diseases.

Read more: The Lund Report

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