Dentist weighs in on fluoride benefits as DeForest restores water treatment
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – The DeForest Village Board voted to restore fluoridation to its water after removing it more than a year ago.
The decision comes after debate over the health benefits and concerns surrounding the mineral used to prevent tooth decay.
Dr. April Tressler, a dentist and owner of Distinctive Dental Implants in Middleton, said fluoride provides benefits.
“There’s never been anything proven that’s a detriment to it, that it shouldn’t be done,” Tressler said. “There are a lot of benefits, particularly for young people and for under served communities, because they don’t have other access to fluoride.”
Tressler said she notices if patients don’t have fluoride in their water.
“If they are growing up on well water versus community water that’s fluoridated, I see a lot more cavities in those kids that grow up on well water,” Tressler said.
Some DeForest residents shared concerns about long-term impacts during Wednesday’s board meeting.
“Why should folks both pay to add a substance added to our water and then pay again to remove it in order to protect their health,” one community member said.
The price tag for the village to install fluoride equipment sits at $327,000. There are grants that will be used toward the payment.
“There are methods available that don’t require the entire community to consume fluoride and a lot us object to that,” another community member said.
Tressler said there is higher exposure to fluoride in toothpaste than in water.
“It’s very low, 0.7 parts per million that’s what we go for water fluoridation. That’s what we’ve proven is the lowest amount that still has effect on the population,” Tressler said. “When we use toothpaste, it’s usually 5%, 10% depending on if you use prescription toothpaste or over-the-counter toothpaste.”
Public Health Madison & Dane County officials support municipalities throughout Dane County who have fluoride in their water, but cannot enforce it.
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