Dear Editor:

As was reported in this paper, at an Oct. 11 public forum in Boothbay Harbor, a retired pediatric dentist from Portland was invited to speak in favor of fluoridating our public water supply.

I want to draw attention to a point Dr. Stephen Mills made near the beginning of his presentation: “and to be perfectly honest, now we think that fluoride works mostly topically.” I have read a good deal about fluoride and how it is much more effective when used topically (as in toothpaste or mouthwash, or applied to teeth by a dentist), than ingested. While unexpected, I was pleased to hear a dentist narrow-in on this important concept.

I wish Dr. Mills had spoken more about topical fluoride application, but he moved on to a slide with a photograph of five or six children’s mouths from his practice. Sadly, each was disturbingly affected by tooth decay. Dr. Mills practiced in the Portland area where the water supply has been fluoridated since 1997.

As dentistry and science progress, good oral hygiene (including toothpaste with fluoride in it), regular visits to a dentist, and a healthy diet continue to stand out as the best means of keeping our mouths healthy—while the benefits of adding fluoride chemicals to our water are less clear and increasingly debated. Let’s rethink what we drink and devote resources to ensuring that all children in our community have the knowledge and tools to take care of their teeth.  

Please vote no to fluoridation of our public water supply on Election Day.

Pete Benoit

Boothbay Harbor