Fluoride is required by law
Guest Opinion
By Ronald Stark

Pursuant to California health and safety codes, all public water agencies serving over 10,000 customers are required to fluoridate their water.

With the adding of fluoridation to our drinking water by the Metropolitan Water District, some residents of our community have had some questions about the safety of fluoride consumption for all age groups and particularly to children up to the age of one year.

The American Dental Association has given the following advice to reduce fluoride intake from infant formula for children 12 months and younger.

•Feed infants breast milk. •Use ready-to-feed formula over formula mixed with fluoridated water.

•For liquid or powered concentrated infant formulas having fluoride, use low level or nonfluoride water (purified water).

•The use of water containing the recommended amounts of fluoride levels (0.7 to 1.2 parts per million) is okay for occasional use.

As always, parents or caregivers should consult their dentist, pediatrician or physician on the most appropriate water to use in their child's formula.

The ADA also advises that children under 2 years of age not use fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash unless advised to by their dentist. They also advise to train their children not to swallow fluoride toothpaste.

The ADA endorses fluoridation of community water supplies as safe and effective for protecting against tooth decay. With 60 years of experience with fluoridating water and numerous studies from independent labs, there is no evidence that water fluoridated to the optimal levels to prevent tooth decay has any health effects.

The Centers for Disease Control also has endorsed fluoridation and has said that fluoridation is one of 10 great public health achievements. Some 170 million people in the United States are served by public water systems that are fluoridated.

For further information on fluoridation, visit www.cdc.gov or www.ada.org.

Ronald Stark is chairpeson for the Triunfo Sanitation District, which includes homes and business in Oak Park, North Ranch Westlake and Lake Sherwood