Dallas reviews the practice of adding fluoride to its drinking water
DALLAS - A Dallas City Council committee is examining the longtime practice of fluoridating drinking water.
The discussion comes as opposition to the practice is spreading on social media.
With concerns being raised by vocal opponents of fluoride in drinking water, the Dallas City Council's quality of life committee heard from a panel of experts about the practice that began in Dallas in 1966.
Dr. Mary Swift, the past president of the Dallas County Dental Society, explained that a recent claim that fluoride is associated with a lower IQ is unsubstantiated. The claim was made in a study from Canada.
"The study's authors refused to release the data," she said. Peer-reviewed studies have shown there is no link between IQ and fluoridated water.
Dallas City Councilwoman Paula Blackmon expressed reservations about the longtime practice.
"Times have changed since the 50s," she said. "I think it is a fair question to ask if a practice in 2023 is still a good practice."
Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Dr. Philip Huang said the CDC continues to conduct reviews and recently updated the recommended amount of fluoride in drinking water.
Dr. Swift said fluoridation in water is a way to help the most vulnerable.
"We can reach and prevent more decay with community fluoride system than any dentist could ever reach," she said.
Panelists showed a study of two similar cities in Canada: Calgary and Edmonton.
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When Calgary stopped fluoridating water, cavity rates in children spiked.
Committee Chair Adam Bazaldua expressed dismay that the panel was only made up of experts who support fluoridation.
"It has made a lot of lobbyists a lot of money across the country," he said.
Bazaldua said he wanted to know more about any impacts felt or not felt in U.S. cities that have ended fluoridation like Tucson, Albuquerque and San Jose.
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"As a policy maker and a young one, I look at anything we've been doing for 60 years and say why are we still doing it?" he said.
Dr. Johnny Johnson Jr with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry is a public advocate for the practice but said that he does not get paid for it.
"As a dentist, we are advocating for less business, advocating for something that is going to knock out at least 20% of the cavities out there," he said.
The deputy city manager said Monday's briefing was only the first step in the conversation.