Dental Dismay: State representative proposes making fluoride optional in Kentucky drinking water

RANDALL CAM IS HERE NOW WITH BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT, RANDALL, RICK. MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SAY REMOVING FLUORIDE WILL LEAD TO INCREASED TOOTH DECAY IN KIDS, BUT SUPPORTERS OF HOUSE BILL 141 WANT TO END KENTUCKY’S FLUORIDE MANDATE AND GIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE AUTHORITY TO DECIDE WHAT IS AND ISN’T ADDED TO THEIR WATER SUPPLY IS IT REALLY WORKING? BECAUSE IF IF THIS WORKS SO GOOD AND OUR FLUORIDATION METHODS WITH THE WATER OR WITH THE FLUORIDE IN THE WATER IS WORKING, THEN WHY ARE WE 49TH OUT OF OUT OF 50 STATES? KENTUCKY STATE REP MARK HART IS THE SPONSOR OF A HOUSE BILL WHICH WOULD MAKE WATER FLUORIDATION AN OPTIONAL FLUORIDE IS A MINERAL ADDED TO DRINKING WATER TO PREVENT CAVITIES IN TEETH FORMING. IN YOUNG CHILDREN, I USE FLUORIDE. I DRINK TAP WATER. ALL MY LIFE, SO I’M NOT AGAINST FLUORIDE. USE OF ANY MEANS, BUT I DON’T THINK, UH, THE STATE SHOULD BE MANDATING A MEDICAL TREATMENT OF ANY TYPE. DOCTOR STEVE ROBERTSON IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KENTUCKY DENTAL ASSOCIATION. HE SAYS STUDY AFTER STUDY HAS PROVEN ADDING FLUORIDE TO THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY PROTECTS TEETH. THE FLUORIDE IN THE WATER IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT HELPS EVERY BODY, REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE, REGARDLESS, AS LONG AS YOU’RE ON THAT WATER SYSTEM, YOU’RE GETTING THE EFFECT OF THAT FLUORIDE IN THAT WATER, SO IT HELPS EVERYONE BUT REPRESENTATIVE HART DISAGREES. FLUORIDE WORKS WHEN IT’S APPLIED TOPICALLY. FLUORIDE DON’T WORK IN MY OPINION, WHEN YOU DRINK IT. HART SAYS HE’S SEEN FIVE STUDIES, WHICH PROVE ADDING FLUORIDE TO WATER DOESN’T PROPERLY PROTECT TEETH. ROBERTSON SAYS THOSE STUDIES HAVE BEEN DEBUNKED. THE DOCTOR ALSO POINTS OUT THAT ADDING FLUORIDE TO A PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM COSTS JUST PENNIES PER CUSTOMER. HE SUGGESTS INSTEAD OF TAKING FLUORIDE OUT OF WATER, THE STATE SHOULD PAY TO KEEP IT IN. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY REALLY EXPRESS THREE TIMES WAS THAT IT’S A NON FUNDED STATE MANDATE. SO I MEAN IT WOULD BE INTERESTING. I WOULD HOPE THAT MAYBE SOMEONE WOULD STEP UP AND SAY, HEY, SINCE THIS IS SO INEXPENSIVE, LET’S JUST FUND THIS. BUT THE INTENT OF MY BILL IS NOT FOR ME TO DECIDE FOR THE PEOPLE. LET THE PEOPLE DRINKING THE WATER DECIDE. LET’S MAKE IT A LOCAL OPTION. IN THE FLUORIDATION BILL PASSED COMMITTEE LAST WEEK AND COULD UP COULD COME UP FOR A VOTE IN THE HOUSE AS EARLY AS THIS WEEK.

If you live in Kentucky, you're most likely drinking fluoride every day.The mineral has been in every public water system in the state since the 1960's. Fluoride is added to drinking water as a public health measure to reduce cavities.However, proposed legislation in Frankfort would remove the mandate that public water systems add fluoride to their tap water.Medical professionals say removing fluoride will lead to increased tooth decay in kids.Supporters of House Bill 141 want to end Kentucky's fluoride mandate and give local governments the authority to decide what is and isn't added to their local water supply. "Is it really working? Because if this works so good and our fluoridation method with the water or with the fluoride in the water is working, then why are we 49th out of out of 50 states in dental health," asked Republican Rep. Mark Hart, sponsor of a HB 141, which would make water fluoridation optional.Fluoride is a mineral added to drinking water to prevent cavities in teeth forming in young children."I use fluoride. I drink tap water all my life. So I'm not against fluoride use of many means, but I don't think the state should be mandating a medical treatment of any type," said Rep. Hart.Dr. Stephen Robertson is the executive director of the Kentucky Dental Association.Robertson told WLKY News study after study has proven adding fluoride to the public water supply protects teeth."The fluoride in the water is one of the programs that helps everybody, regardless of who you are, regardless of where you live, regardless, long as you're on that water system, you're getting the effect of that fluoride in that water. So it helps everyone," said Dr. Robertson.Hart disagrees. "Fluoride works when it's applied topically. Fluoride don't work, in my opinion, when you drink it," he said.The state representative from Falmouth said he's seen five studies that prove adding to fluoride in water doesn't properly protect teeth.Robertson said those studies have been debunked.The doctor also points out that adding fluoride to a public system costs just pennies per customer.Robertson suggests instead of taking fluoride out of water, the state pay to keep it in. "One of the things that they really express three times was that it's a non-funded state mandate. So, I mean, it would be interesting. I would hope that maybe someone would step up and say, hey, since this is so inexpensive, let's just fund this," said Dr. Robertson."The intent of my bill is not for me to decide. Let the people drinking the water, decide. Let's make it a local option," said Rep. Hart.The fluoridation bill passed committee last week and could come up for a vote in the house as early as this week.

FRANKFORT, Ky. —

If you live in Kentucky, you're most likely drinking fluoride every day.

The mineral has been in every public water system in the state since the 1960's.

Fluoride is added to drinking water as a public health measure to reduce cavities.

However, proposed legislation in Frankfort would remove the mandate that public water systems add fluoride to their tap water.

Medical professionals say removing fluoride will lead to increased tooth decay in kids.

Supporters of House Bill 141 want to end Kentucky's fluoride mandate and give local governments the authority to decide what is and isn't added to their local water supply.

"Is it really working? Because if this works so good and our fluoridation method with the water or with the fluoride in the water is working, then why are we 49th out of out of 50 states in dental health," asked Republican Rep. Mark Hart, sponsor of a HB 141, which would make water fluoridation optional.

Fluoride is a mineral added to drinking water to prevent cavities in teeth forming in young children.

"I use fluoride. I drink tap water all my life. So I'm not against fluoride use of many means, but I don't think the state should be mandating a medical treatment of any type," said Rep. Hart.

Dr. Stephen Robertson is the executive director of the Kentucky Dental Association.

Robertson told WLKY News study after study has proven adding fluoride to the public water supply protects teeth.

"The fluoride in the water is one of the programs that helps everybody, regardless of who you are, regardless of where you live, regardless, long as you're on that water system, you're getting the effect of that fluoride in that water. So it helps everyone," said Dr. Robertson.

Hart disagrees. "Fluoride works when it's applied topically. Fluoride don't work, in my opinion, when you drink it," he said.

The state representative from Falmouth said he's seen five studies that prove adding to fluoride in water doesn't properly protect teeth.

Robertson said those studies have been debunked.

The doctor also points out that adding fluoride to a public system costs just pennies per customer.

Robertson suggests instead of taking fluoride out of water, the state pay to keep it in.

"One of the things that they really express three times was that it's a non-funded state mandate. So, I mean, it would be interesting. I would hope that maybe someone would step up and say, hey, since this is so inexpensive, let's just fund this," said Dr. Robertson.

"The intent of my bill is not for me to decide. Let the people drinking the water, decide. Let's make it a local option," said Rep. Hart.

The fluoridation bill passed committee last week and could come up for a vote in the house as early as this week.

Dental Dismay: State representative proposes making fluoride optional in Kentucky drinking water

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