Water fluoridation is one of the fairest ways for everyone in a community to benefit regardless of income, education, or financial ability to seek dental care. People benefiting the most from water fluoridation are those most susceptible to tooth decay. Typically these are the poorest and most disadvantaged members of our community.
The world-wide evidence supporting water fluoridation is well-founded and continues to grow. No other public measure has received more intensive scientific research into its safety. Over fifty years of animal and human scientific studies have shown water fluoridation to be safe and effective. Scientists still pursue ongoing, intensive research on fluorides and fluoridation.
The Canadian Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the World Health Organization the U.S. Public Health Service and its Centers For Disease Control, and the Fédération Dentaire Internationale, continue to responsibly monitor fluoride's effects. Periodic allegations of "new evidence" purporting to show the harmful effects of fluoridation do not withstand the test of objective, scientific scrutiny. In other communities where fluoridation was discontinued, the rate of tooth decay began to climb.
In Calgary, the initial public concern regarding the safety of water fluoridation, which was largely fueled [sic] by the antifluoridationists, has subsided. Telephone inquiries concerning fluoride have decreased markedly since the plebiscite, and now average about 60 calls per year. Most calls are from students doing projects, citizens traveling [sic] and wanting fluoride supplements, and CRHA residents inquiring about fluoride in well water. Very few are from citizens inquiring about the health effects.
The CRHA has the responsibility to protect and promote the health of the more than 800,000 individuals in the region and to work for the prevention of disease and injury. The CRHA Board unanimously supported controlled water fluoridation on February 27, 1995. In light of a lack of a significant change in public health recommendations about water fluoridation, another plebiscite would be a considerable expense to the taxpayer, both for the plebiscite itself and for the public education campaign which would be necessary.
Contacts:
Dr. Brent Friesen, M.D., F.R.C.P.C.
Medical Officer of Health/Chief Regional Officer, Population Health
Telephone: (403) 228-7532
Dr. John Willey, B.A., D.D.S., D.D.P.H., F.RC.C.D.
Director, Oral health Program
Telephone: (403) 228-7403
April 22, 1997
What follows is a perfect example of indoctrination as described in the Townsend Letter for Doctors. It is from a page in a dental hygiene unit developed by Calgary Health Services (CRHA's predecessor). It was taught to Calgary teenagers in 1988. The students in this class requested the city to hold a fluoridation plebiscite in 1989.
Go to the letters from scientists to see whether this even comes close to reality!
The most effective antifluoridation group is the National Health Federation (NHF), established to promote "unproved remedies, eccentric theories & quackery." In 1974, NHF announced that opposing fluoridation would be its number two priority and hired a biochemist named John Yiamouyiannis to do the job. For more than five years, Yiamouyiannis served effectively as a consultant to most local and state groups which fought against fluoridation. In March 1980, after a falling out with other NHF leaders, he left the organization to form the National Clean Water Foundation.
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