Dear Editor:
Imagine this: You’re going about your day when a sharp pain jolts through your tooth—the first cry of a cavity.
Anyone who has experienced dental pain knows the relentless ache, like a hot fire poker in your jaw, robbing you of focus, sleep and the simple pleasure of eating.
Now, picture living with that pain for over three months while waiting for relief. With fewer than 40 dentists available to treat over 80,000 residents, Clearfield County, like the rest of Pennsylvania, is facing long wait times for dental appointments.
A recent state report revealed an average of 99 days for cavity treatment. The outlook is often much worse for those managing financial hardships or for the 1 in 20 residents that do not have health insurance.
The good news?
There is an effective way to prevent a significant portion of these cavities: adjusting the natural fluoride levels in tap water.
As the Clearfield Municipal Authority approaches its November meeting to vote on the future of water fluoridation, we must recognize that this practice remains safe, effective and essential for our community.
As reported in local media, Jim Balliet of Gwin, Dobson & Foreman Inc., of Altoona asked members to consider discontinuing fluoridation as part of the water treatment process in Clearfield.
The reasoning brought forth to consider this change for the community may be in good faith but is backed by poor rationale, bad science and will be costly to our community and our health.
Fluoride is a naturally-occurring element found in all water sources, strengthening teeth and making them more resistant to decay.
Water fluoridation involves adjusting the naturally-occurring fluoride levels to an optimal concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter, a practice that predates the existence of fluoride toothpaste by over 10 years.
Over 70 years of research validates its effectiveness in preventing cavities in both children and adults.
Recently, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Monograph on fluoride and a subsequent lawsuit against the EPA has been making headlines leading to confusion on water fluoridation.
Neither the NTP report, nor the ruling by the federal court in California, found an association of harm from fluoride levels consistent with those at the optimal level of 0.7 mg/L found in public water supplies, further reaffirming the safety of water fluoridation.
What these recent developments missed was highlighting the effectiveness of fluoridation as a critical part of the plan to keep a community healthy by helping to prevent the most common disease for children and adults-cavities.
Adjusting our water to the optimal levels is like adding one drop of fluoride to a 55-gallon drum- a small yet simple addition that yields enormous benefits.
A recent Pennsylvania study revealed that third-grade students with access to fluoridated water had nearly a 16 percent lower risk of developing cavities than their peers without access.
Further, a recent analysis by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews affirmed that “there’s no evidence to suggest that where water fluoridation programs are in place, they should necessarily be stopped,” and highlighted that “contemporary studies are showing that water fluoridation is beneficial.”
The supporting evidence is overwhelming, and water fluoridation remains supported by the World Health Organization, American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. In fact, even the American Water Works Association supports water fluoridation.
There have been many smaller systems across the state like Western Berks, Shippensburg and Ebensburg who recently have had similar discussions about fluoridation.
After talking with experts and listening to their customers, they made the decision to retain fluoride in their water. As a result, their water operators are able to prevent more cavities in a community than dentists are able to treat.
The fluoridated water produced by our water system is an equal and effective way to deliver fluoride to ALL community members regardless of age, income or ability to visit a dentist.
Water fluoridation costs less than $1 per year per person and can save individuals $32 in dental costs each year. Knowing that Clearfield Municipal Authority reaches more than just those with a tap in their home, that savings amounts to over $2.5 million for Clearfield County residents.
The cost of a cavity is more than the bill from the dentist. It is the lost hours at work or school, it is the inability to eat or drink, it is the anguish of losing teeth and losing your smile.
Fluoridation has already been included in the plans currently being reviewed by the state DEP as part of the Montgomery Run Water Treatment Plant upgrade.
A decision to reverse this choice not only comes at the risk of increased costs to maintain our oral health, but ratepayers would also be at risk of absorbing the associated costs required for securing new permits with DEP, which can be thousands of additional dollars.
The decision Clearfield faces is critical. The evidence is clear: fluoridation is safe, effective and has been protecting communities like ours for decades. We can’t afford to remove this lifeline.
Now, as the municipal authority approaches its November vote, it’s up to all of us to make our voices heard.
I urge you to connect with board members, attend the voting meeting on Nov. 19, at 4 p.m., and advocate for the continuation of water fluoridation in Clearfield.
Together, we can ensure that every resident, regardless of income or access to dental care, receives this critical protection for their health.
Our smiles—and our overall health—depend on it.
Nicole Payonk
Clearfield County