171–180 of 1001 posts
Sorry, that was the John Birch Society from the 1960's.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_to_water_fluoridati...
(I'm having some fun, but it is in fact the first thing that comes to mind when I hear objections to fluoridated water. Since we're talking about RFK and Utah, I kind of assume it more or less stems from the same fears.)
This is one of these US-specific polarised debates I find really bizarre, around some kind of issue that the rest of the world has by large solved but without any acknowledgement of this fact. Maybe the US should look into how other countries have solved it? It is completely bizarre witnessing both sides getting so polarised around a basically non-issue.
How have other countries solved it?
This is one of these US-specific polarised debates I find really bizarre, around some kind of issue that the rest of the world has by large solved but without any acknowledgement of this fact. Maybe the US should look into how other countries have solved it? It is completely bizarre witnessing both sides getting so polarised around a basically non-issue.
This is one of these US-specific polarised debates I find really bizarre, around some kind of issue that the rest of the world has by large solved but without any acknowledgement of this fact. Maybe the US should look into how other countries have solved it? It is completely bizarre witnessing both sides getting so polarised around a basically non-issue.
How has the debate been solved by the rest of the world? My understanding is that many countries in Europe don't fluoridate the water supply. I'm skeptical of results showing IQ loss but I also think fluoridation should be phased out as fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash are now widely available. Banning it seems like the wrong move to me...states should simply decide to continue adding it or not.
Isn't that exactly what's happening here? A state deciding to not continue adding it?
This is one of these US-specific polarised debates I find really bizarre, around some kind of issue that the rest of the world has by large solved but without any acknowledgement of this fact. Maybe the US should look into how other countries have solved it? It is completely bizarre witnessing both sides getting so polarised around a basically non-issue.
There is not real debate, just some people who don't understand how chemistry works.
It's not a debate everywhere else because adding fluoride to the water is objectively an unusual thing to do that they just... don't. Presumably they get fluoride other ways.
Fluoride in Toothpaste: Do not ingest. Flouride in Water: Ingest away. I do not understand how these two can co-exist.
Radioactive isotopes in banana: consume away.
Understand now? I'm not even defending anything other than how two things that vaguely appear contradictory, are in fact, not.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
How has the debate been solved by the rest of the world? My understanding is that many countries in Europe don't fluoridate the water supply. I'm skeptical of results showing IQ loss but I also think fluoridation should be phased out as fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash are now widely available. Banning it seems like the wrong move to me...states should simply decide to continue adding it or not.
> Banning it seems like the wrong move to me...states should simply decide to continue adding it or not. Isn't that exactly what's happening here? A state deciding to not continue adding it?
Utah has naturally occurring fluoride in their water and some water systems its more than double(2.0mg/l) what they add to prevent dental issues. Why were they fluorinating their water? https://cascadefamily.com/images/WaterFluoridationLevelsUtah...
Ok, but then you just say, we have enough naturally occurring fluoride. Adding more is just a waste of money. Or, toothpaste has enough extra fluoride, adding it to water is just a waste of money. This is not that. This is the US health system being lead by a bunch of woo-woo people who don’t understand how research works.
The majority of the developed world does not fluoridate their water supply. The US has one of the highest rates of fluoridation in the developed world. Within America, fluoridation rates are highest on the East Coast and in the South, and lowest on the Left Coast.
I’m disappointed in the news media fails to mention the cascading effects of dental health. Yes, the primary and direct benefit of fluoride is to have a healthier mouth. But having a healthy mouth is far from the end goal, imo. If your mouth is full of cavities you’re more likely to build up bacteria that cause downstream effects as serious as heart disease. Also if your mouth is routinely uncomfortable you may gravi…
> They’re not going to run public health campaigns stressing the importance of regular brushing. They’re just willing to let people’s teeth rot to score points. Do you really think there are sizable native born populations that are not aware of tooth brushing? There’s plenty of people that don’t bother with it, but I don’t see a PR campaign being particularly effective at changing that.
I think there are lots of adults who don’t realize that poor dental health can cause heart failure and worsen basically every chronic condition.
I think there are lots of goobers who don’t realize that there’s no reason that United and Elevance and the rest couldn’t be forced to cover dental care via regulation.
I get your point, but big picture there are a lot of impactful education campaigns that should be possible.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Banning it seems like the wrong move to me...states should simply decide to continue adding it or not. Isn't that exactly what's happening here? A state deciding to not continue adding it?
Nope, the bill as written prevents local municipalities from making that decision.
Did OP mean that municipalities should simply decide to keep adding or not? If so, how do we decide (from our various armchairs in most cases far away from Utah) what the appropriate level of government for making this call is?