Fluoride article misses the mark and needs more voices
TO THE EDITOR:
I was bothered by the reporting in your Feb. 15 article about Morganton’s water fluoridation. You wrote “chances are the City of Morganton won’t have to worry about repairs to the equipment” because of Kennedy’s confirmation as HHS Secretary.
Yes, we now have a Director of a Health and Human Services who does not believe we should be putting fluoride in our water system. That is NOT a reason for us to change our minds.
Our City Council’s decision in the ’70s, applauded by those following the science, was to include fluoride in our water. We then invested substantially in our fluoride feed system.
Before Morganton buys into Kennedy’s bias against science in the dental arena, perhaps we should consider whether Kennedy’s other idiosyncratic biases should also influence Morganton.
Should we also outlaw Wi-Fi (brain damage), vaccines (autism), and 5G (general health risks)? Should we start drinking unpasteurized milk?
I was delighted to see a front-page article this morning (Feb. 22) titled “Local dentists weigh in on fluoride health risks, benefits.” My smile changed to a clenched jaw when I saw that only one person had been interviewed.
The “local” dentist selected, John Cox, appears to be a Caldwell County dentist who opened a second office in Valdese last year. Dr. Cox said that, unlike most dentists, he is not a proponent of fluoride.
He disagrees with adding fluoride to the water, and he recommends non-fluoride toothpaste. How should we decipher this Dr. Cox quote?: “I don’t think I would see much of a difference at all as far as a dental relation. I don’t think it really does it says … I think it’s more of a health concern, is what I see.”
Two other positions on the issue had been extracted from comments made on Facebook and The Paper’s website. One comment was from a Statesville dental hygienist and the other from a “local” hygienist. Both, of course, were adamantly pro-fluoride.
You presented three views for your readers; two hygienists for fluoride and one dentist against fluoride. If I was relying on The Paper for my fluoride information, I would either be undecided, or against fluoride.
Fortunately, I view other sources. Although the Burke County dentist you interviewed recommended a fluoride-free toothpaste, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website clearly supports the use of fluoride, and includes the following frequently-asked question — “If I am using fluoride toothpaste, do I still need to drink fluoridated water?” Their answer is:
“Fluoridated water and fluoride toothpaste work together to prevent cavities.
“Fluoridated water keeps a low level of fluoride in the mouth all day. Fluoride toothpaste provides a much higher concentration at important times of day (e.g., bedtime).
Both types of fluoride strengthen the outer tooth enamel and slow the activity of bacteria that cause cavities.
Together, the two sources offer more protection than using either one alone.”
This information seems relevant to Morganton at this time.
Of course, the CDC is now under Kennedy, so I expect this science-based website information will change. When it does, will that change the fact that fluoridated drinking water is helpful?
Why is your headline “Local dentists weigh in on fluoride health risks, benefits“? Why were none of the 20 or more Morganton dentists contacted? I applaud The Paper reporting on this important and timely issue.
I fault you for your misleading headline. No local dentists mentioned the benefits of fluoride, despite it being established science.
The greater fault, however, is the damage your reporting might be doing to the future adult teeth of Morganton’s children. Please make more of an effort to avoid influencing your readers to go in a dangerous direction.
Interview more than one person next time. If you do choose to interview just one expert, make sure they are not an outlier.
Disinformation has become our number one killer. Journalism should adopt the medical mantra — “First, do no harm.”
PAUL RASMUSSEN
EDITOR’S NOTE: While reporting this story, The Paper contacted many dentists throughout Burke County. None of them chose to participate in this important coverage. Moving forward, we will detail attempts to include appropriate parties in our stories. Otherwise, the content can appear misleading, as was the case here.
Allen VanNoppen is the publisher. He may be reached at 828-445-8595 or allen@thepaper.media.
