Dear Editor:

We strongly urge all residents in the Boothbay Region Water District to vote “Yes” to keep fluoride in our public water supply for the intended purpose of reducing tooth decay. Voting “Yes” will continue the District’s 18-year-old practice of fluoridating our local drinking water. The Federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention calls drinking water fluoridation one of the top ten public health achievements of the 20th century. In study after study, fluoridated water has been shown to improve the dental health of all age groups, but most importantly, it protects the developing teeth of young children. Preventing dental decay in children can help prevent the development of significant diseases, such as tooth abscess and serious infections in other body organs, and it promotes better dental health throughout a person’s lifetime.

There is a lot of misinformation about fluoridation on the internet, but here are the facts from reputable scientific sources: Community water fluoridation is supported by the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization. Fluoride is not a medication or chemical, but rather it’s a naturally occurring mineral found in water. Adding fluoride to public drinking water at the proper level prevents tooth decay by strengthening the enamel on the teeth. Fluoridation is similar to adding nutrients to other everyday products to benefit our health such as iodine in salt, folic acid in bread, and vitamin D in milk.

Opponents of water fluoridation point out that children can instead benefit from the topical application of fluoride to prevent tooth decay; yet across Maine it is difficult for many families to access and pay for topical fluoride treatments and dental care. Two recent articles in the Portland Press Herald highlighted our state’s shortage of dentists, hygienists and other dental health professionals, and noted the state-wide challenge of accessing dental care. Preventing dental disease through water fluoridation is an important strategy for life-long dental health.

Water fluoridation is a safe, efficient, and cost-effective way to improve dental health, particularly for our region’s children. We urge the community to join us in voting “YES” to keep our fluoridated water supply.

William L. and Patricia Ball, East Boothbay

Merritt and Martha Blakeslee, Boothbay Harbor

Geoff Chatterton, Southport

David W. Cody and Kate Sullivan-Cody, Boothbay Harbor

Lee Corbin and Jon Dunsford, Boothbay Harbor

Sarah Foulger and Russell Hoffman, Boothbay Harbor

Sue and Bob Goodrich, Boothbay

Denise and Chip Griffin, Boothbay Harbor

Marty Helman, Boothbay Harbor

Margaret Helming, MD, and F. William Helming, III, Southport

Eric and Sandi Hakanson, Boothbay

Bill and Jan Hamblen, Boothbay Harbor

Andy Hollon, Southport

Judy and Alfred Kildow, Boothbay Harbor

Dr. Deryl Kipp, DDS, Boothbay

Dr. H. Winston Kipp, MD, East Boothbay

Jamie and Tom Knobloch, Boothbay Harbor

Douglas Light, Boothbay Harbor

Tom Myette, Southport

Dr. Mary B. Neal, MD, Boothbay Harbor

Peggy Pinkham, RN, MBA, Boothbay

Ken Rayle, Boothbay Harbor

Betty and Ted Repa, Boothbay Harbor

Marianne Reynolds, Boothbay

Dr. Barclay Shepard, MD, Boothbay Harbor

Michael Tomko and Martha H. Cowdery, Boothbay Harbor

Dr. Wendy J. Wolf, MD, MPH, Boothbay Harbor