06-15-2012 – Dentists and a consultant for the state Department of Health are encouraging the city of Santa Fe to continue the practice of adding fluoride to public drinking water supplies.
Officials on Wednesday set a public hearing July 11 to debate whether to adopt what they expect will be a new, lower federal standard for optimal fluoridation. Some city councilors also have said they will advocate that the city scrap fluoridation across the board and instead rely on natural “background” levels of the mineral that already occur in the water.
“This is a subject matter that has been studied and studied and studied over and over again,” said Ron Romero, a prevention consultant for the Department of Health’s Oral Health Office. “The science is there to show that community water fluoridation is effective.”
Daniel Borrero, a pediatric dentist, also urged councilors Wednesday to adopt the new federal standard because he said it’s proven to help prevent tooth decay in children.
“Even though it goes against our business interest, ethically and as a member of the community, I speak in favor of water fluoridation every day,” he said.
Other city residents have asked the city to stop adding fluoride to that water because they say it’s a health hazard.
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