Editor:
I urge the citizens of Williams Lake to vote in favour of keeping fluoride in the our municipal water system.
Fluoridation of a community’s water system is a proven and effective measure to prevent tooth decay. It is one of the great public health achievements of the 20th century.
Water fluoridation benefits all residents in a community, regardless of age, education, or socioeconomic status.
The Canadian Dental Association supports the use of fluoride in water systems, based on 50 years of research. The evidence shows that it is safe and effective at preventing dental decay. More children are cavity free or have lower decay rates with fluoridation.
The 2009/10 school survey demonstrates that students in Williams Lake (District 27) have evidence of poorer dental health than most students in the Interior.
The province has set a target of 60 per cent of children to be cavity free.
School survey outcomes of schools in the Williams Lake area are below this, at an average of 49 per cent (as per Interior Health medical health officers).
Fluoridation of drinking water provides children living in this area significant added protection and children will be the group most negatively impacted by a decision not to fluoride.
While there are challenges with sustaining the service of fluoridation in Williams Lake it is an investment in our resident’s oral health.
Dr. Christine Constabel
Williams Lake