Open up and say ahhhhh

By Lyndi-Colleen Morgan

Windsorites who fought to keep the process of fluoridation treatment in their water and lost may be getting their wish.

On Oct. 6, the Ontario legislature voted to prohibit cities from removing fluoride from their water after being presented with data showing the positive effects fluoride has on dental care. According to the National Post, the motion may only be symbolic at the moment but it could change.

“Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in the soil, the air, plants, animals and water supplies,” said Kim Casier, manager of the oral health department at the Windsor Essex County Health Unit.

Fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to a public water supply to reduce tooth decay. The limit for adding fluoride to the drinking water is 1.5 milligrams per litre which is designated by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

Fluoride is considered a beneficial nutrient because of its proven effects on dental health. Casier said in a report published by the World Health Organization, fluoride is listed as one of the 14 minerals essential to good health.

“Fluoride makes the outer layer of our teeth, or tooth enamel, stronger and more resistant to decay,” said Casier.

In January 2013, Windsor voted 8-3 in favour of the removal of fluoridation from the water treatment process. The city is one of 15 municipalities in Ontario to remove this step.

Kim DeYong is a member of Fluoride Free Windsor and spoke in favour of the removal of fluoride in 2013.

“Citizens and councillors realized that adding hydrofluorosilicic acid to the water supply was not a good use of taxpayer money,” said DeYong.

She said there are numerous studies that show there is no connection between the fluoridation process and oral health and the addition of the fluoride to the water is in fact harmful.

Nonetheless, the Community Water Fluoridation Statement published by the WECHU stated there is proof that when “fluoride is added to the water at the recommended levels, studies have shown there is no link to negative health outcomes.”

Casier said organizations like the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Health Canada support water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay.

The CWF statement says for every dollar spent on community water fluoridation, $38 is saved on dental expenses.

According to Garp Rossi, the vice-president of water operations at Enwin Utilities, the city of Windsor had an annual fluoridation, operating and maintenance costs of $125,000. This means an annual residents saving of $4.75 million yearly.

For those who do not have coverage it can be costly.

“The cost of a method of treatment for dental care depends on what they can afford to get done,” said Michael Leventis, the dentist at Walkerville Dental office. “Those who are of higher education, finance and insurance are generally able to afford more work.”  

He said they are also more likely to have better oral health in general. The WECHU has dental assistance programs for those under 17 years of age, but adults who do not have coverage will often have to pay out of pocket.

“Community water fluoridation is the most cost effective and equitable means of providing preventive fluoride protection to the entire community,” said Casier.

As a dentist he said he has noticed a change in the dental hygiene of children and adults since the removal of the fluoride. He said children are coming in with larger and multiple cavities which continually come back and this can be attributed to a lack of fluoride.

“Fluoride that is ingested (through water) as a child becomes part of the teeth as they come in,” said Leventis. “As people grow older, it’s as if the fluoride grows with you in a sense.”

Molly Harper is a full time student at the University of Windsor and works four jobs. She said with her jobs and schooling she has little coverage for oral care. For most things she has to pay out of pocket and keep the documentation so the student plan at the university can refund the money.

“I have to pay then get reimbursed for it once I submit the receipts. Usually they only cover a certain amount so I end up paying a little bit,” said Harper. “It’s nerve wracking to have to worry about paying upfront since some procedures are quite costly. I think it’s just another way to help protect teeth especially for those like myself.”

Casier said the city of Windsor will have to acknowledge the change in legislation in the future, possibly having to reverse their decision.

“It may be something the city will have to look at in the future, only time will tell.”