This is a publicity stunt taxpayers fund because our government needs to protect fluoride's image. Aren't water engineers supposed to get fluoride levels correct? Isn’t that their job? Do they get chlorine or sodium hydroxide awards too? No, they don’t. Many communities are rejecting fluoridation because science shows ingesting fluoride is ineffective at reducing tooth decay, harmful to health, unethical and a waste of money. New York State communities which have already stopped or rejected fluoridation include: Suffolk, Nassau & Rockland counties, Albany, Elba, Naples, Levittown, Canton, Corning, Johnstown, Oneida, Carle Place, Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Riverhead, Central Bridge Water District, Homer, Ithaca, Rouses Point, Pulaski, Romulus and Amsterdam. People need to demand that fluoridation be stopped! Your local water department will probably thank you because fluoridation chemicals are among the most hazardous, toxic chemicals on the planet. The only beneficiaries are those corporations that sell fluoride products. As long as you don't know fluoride is harmful, you'll keep buying into fluoridation schemes. Hundreds of communities across the US have rejected fluoridation. Many are challenging it today. Legislation was introduced in NYC to stop fluoridation, also. Wichita, Kansas voted 60 to 40% to reject fluoridation efforts. Residents of Portland Oregon just collected over 40,000 petition signatures to force a referendum when their city council quietly tried to mandate fluoridation. You should join these progressive communities and demand that your government stop wasting your money on ineffective, harmful fluoride chemicals and the upkeep of the infrastructure and equipment it requires For more info http://www.FluorideAction.Net View Comment

This is a publicity stunt taxpayers fund because our government needs to protect fluoride's image. Aren't water engineers supposed to get fluoride levels correct? Isn’t that their job? Do they get chlorine or sodium hydroxide awards too? No, they don’t. Many communities are rejecting fluoridation because science shows ingesting fluoride is ineffective at reducing tooth decay, harmful to health, unethical and a waste of money. People need to demand that fluoridation be stopped! Your local water department will probably thank you because fluoridation chemicals are among the most hazardous, toxic chemicals on the planet. The only beneficiaries are those corporations that sell fluoride products. As long as you don't know fluoride is harmful, you'll keep buying into fluoridation schemes. Many communities in NYS have rejected and stopped fluoridation, including the capital city of Albany and Rockland, Nassau & Suffolk counties. Yet their cavity rates are better than most those in more fluoridated NYS counties YOu should join these progressive communities and demand that your government stop wasting your money on ineffective, harmful fluoride chemicals and on fluoridation's delivery systems. For more info: http://www.FluorideAction.Net View Comment

I wouldn't post here anymore but "LongTime" makes it appear that fluoridation cessation may still be an option. So I will continue to educate. Here’s some of what’s occurred since fluoridation began in 1945 promising to lower tooth decay, put dentists out of business and save millions of dollars annually on dental care: 1) Dental expenditures increased, along with the number of dental professionals, dental schools, and industry profits. Fluoridated toothpaste is a multi-billion dollar international market. The dental products industry is probably a multi-trillion dollar international market. Tooth decay is big business. 2) Even with 73.9% of the U.S. population receiving fluoridated water, the incidence and severity of children's primary tooth decay increased (CDC). 3) Fluoride overdose afflicts up to 60% of US adolescents with dental fluorosis (white spotted, yellow, brown and/or pitted teeth). Early fluoridationists said only 10% would get mild fluorosis Black and Mexican-American children suffer significantly higher rates of the more severe forms (CDC) 4)The National Research Council revealed in 2006 that even low doses of fluoride can harm the thyroid gland, kidney patients, babies and those who drink lots of water. 5) 36 studies link fluoride to children’s lowered IQ - some at levels the US deems safe. Early fluoridationists didn’t consider fluoride/brain effects (or kidney, cancer and thyroid effects). 6) Fluoride collects in the pineal gland (up to 21,000 ppm) located in the middle of the brain 7) formula-fed infants receive up to 250 times more fluoride than breast-fed infants Fluoride supplements are classified as unapproved drugs by the FDA which reports “this drug has not been found by FDA to be safe and effective,” because no safety experiments were ever performed on fluoride ingestion. View Comment

We applaud Yorktown for trying to do the right thing. It probably would have been a good idea to send a pamphlet to all constituents with the pros and cons of fluoridation. Clearly, the residents either weren't told the down side of fluoridation or else they would have showed up. I would be interested to know of the source of information used by all those dentists and pediatricians who claim fluoridation is safe and effective. If it all comes from one source, than it is one opinion. They each should have no problem signing a statement taking responsibility for any ill effects any Yorktown resident has from consuming fluoride via the water supply, inhaling it in showers and cold mist humidifiers If anyone of them won't sign such a statement, then they really aren't 100% sure fluoridation is safe for everyone and they are just repeating what they've been taught to say. View Comment

Larry - Let's see your evidence, not endorsements, that prove ingesting fluoride chemicals via the water supply is harmless to everyone. View Comment

The Pew Foundation paid a PR company and a lobbyist to teach pro-fluoridationists in Portland Oregon how to fight and win fluoridation using politics and activism and they are given talking points because it was discovered that our posting below these articles made an impact. Ignoring that we are simply telling the truth that most people haven't been told, they organized a posse of individuals (don't know if they or their organizations are subsidized for doing so) Anyway "Billy Bud" and "Peggy Thatcher" are members of that posse and have been sharing their talking points in every place that fluoridation is mentioned since they were mobilized in Portland. Nothing wrong with that, I do that, too. However, we correct their misinformation repeatedly but they fail to change their cut and paste message which always makes me wonder what's in it for them. Even if we wanted to believe that for every $1 spent on fluoridation $38 dollars is saved, Peggy and Billy aren't telling you about the hundreds of millions of dollars poured into fluoridation by the Funders Oral Health Policy Group or that the NYS Dep't of Health plans to use Medicaid money to promote fluoridation. Varoius federal agencies provide fluoridation money including CDC, HRSA and block grants. Lots of money is spent on fluoride research - most on dental effects. However, research on adverse health effects is ignored. For example, the NYS DoH published a report in 1990 indicating that fluoridation can harm kidney patients, diabetics and those sensitive to fluoride and recommended more research that was never done. So how can any NYS official or dentist claim fluoridation is safe for everyone when their own reports tell us a different story. And how does Dr. Tegtmeier know that no Yorktown resident has been harmed by fluoride. Like all drugs, fluoride can cause a myriad of problems from skin rash to irritable bowel syndrome and arthritis-type symptoms. Have Yorktown residents been researched to see if any of their illnesses are caused or exacerbated by fluoride. Since such research has never been done, neither of us can say for sure whether any Yorktown resident has been harmed or not harmed by fluoride. View Comment

Billy - I know you live in Portland Oregon. Erie County is in New York State. According to Dr. J Kumar of the NYS Dept of Health tooth decay rates are extremely high in mostly fluoridated Erie County which includes 100% fluoridated Buffalo - 74% of low income Erie County Third Graders have tooth decay (35% of it untreated) and 60% of all third graders have tooth decay (27% untreated) http://www.chfwcny.org/Tools/BroadCaster/Upload/Project39/Docs/Pediatric_Oral_Health_in_Buffalo_Report.pdf Compare that to non-fluoridated Nassau County which has a 50% tooth decay rate of 3rd graders (56% of low income 3rd graders) View Comment

Actually, science has never supported fluoridation. It's all been effective PR and appeal to authority. For example, the first human fluoridation experiment was conducted on the citizens of Grand Rapids Michigan. It was supposed to last 15 years but about 5 years into the experiment, it was discovered that the tooth decay in children of the control non-fluoridated city of Muskegon was going down at the same rate as that of the children in fluoridated Grand Rapids. So it was decided to cover up this inconvenient truth and fluoridate Muskegon's water also. So this study is scientifically invalid. Yet it is still used to prove fluoridation's effectiveness and organized dentistry celebrates its birthday every year to continue the ruse. Newburgh, NY, was the first city to look for health effects caused by fluoridated water. In 1945, Newburgh was fluoridated. Kingston NY was the non-fluoridated control city. Due to political pressure, the experiment was declared a success 5 years into it before the permanent teeth of children born into the experiment had even erupted. Ten years later, State Univ of NY researchers found more anemia, bone defects and early puberty in fluoridated Newburgh children. Adults and pre-schoolers were never examined and those children sick two weeks before examination were excluded Fifty years later, Newburgh children had more tooth decay and dental fluorosis than never fluoridated Kingston. These two studies are the "safety" foundation upon which fluoridation has been built. There are no other studies looking for health effects of fluoridation on any population in the US. So when fluoridationists claim it's been studied to death, they are either lying or ignorant to the truth, trusting "authorities" and falling prey to appeal to authority and slick PR. View Comment

Billy - We are the trailblazers. More and more professionals and legislators are jumping on our bandwagon and off of yours because science and common sense is on our side. Dentists once promoted smoking also. And many still use mercury although most Americans do not want mercury in their mouths. I'd love to see a confidential poll of dentists, where their names are not associated with their ballots, to see how many truly think fluoridation is still a good idea. View Comment

Dentist Tom Curran criticizes dentists who comment because they don't live in Yorktown, well neither does he. Let's see if Curran criticizes Billy Bud who lives in Portland Oregon. But we welcome everyone to the debate no matter where they live, even this Miami dentist who writes: "The year 2012 saw an unprecedented shift in momentum for the anti-fluoride lobby. Last year, more health professionals, activists, and North American residents rallied together than in any year prior. For the first time, a nationwide front has begun to form against the practice of water fluoridation. While health experts cite research indicating that fluoridated water is harmful to major organ systems, other concerned citizens are simply “anti fluoride” because they do not wish to be exposed to a drug without their consent. From Missouri to Saskatchewan, large and small communities across North America are protesting the practice of water fluoridation. 'Many Americans are surprised to know that there is no clinical research to support the claim that fluoride prevents tooth decay. However, there are numerous studies that link fluoride ingestion with a number of very serious health issues. For example, there have been at least 18 human studies and more than 40 animal studies that demonstrate fluoride toxicity harms the brain. Fluoride is particularly harmful to the Pineal gland, a structure located in the center of the brain that is responsible for regulating vital processes like sleep and puberty, among others." http://www.assureasmile.com/miami-dentist-blog/north-americans-unite-voting-to-end-water-fluoridation/ View Comment

Dr. Curran - we have no doubt that Dr. Tegtmeier is a good man who truly believes in fluoridation and probably cares deeply about his patients. But, while he may be doing wonderful work, he apparently doesn't have the time to review the recent fluoride literature and that he is being led astray by those with a political agenda. In a letter to a different newspaper, where Dr. Curran challenged the Fluoride Action Network to use its donations to improve oral health by funding nutrition programs instead. FAN's Excecutive Director, Dr Paul Connett, sent in a letter in response that points out FAN "members do that already in the form of taxes, which pay for WIC, USDA’s nutrition programs, school meals, food stamps, etc. as well as in their personal donations. 'Unlike those who waste our tax dollars on political boondoggles such as fluoridation, our organization raises money from grass-roots activists who earmark their donations towards stopping fluoridation. If we were to divert any of these hard-fought dollars on the alternatives to fluoridation we would probably do so by studying the methods used by the vast majorities of countries in western Europe, which achieve the same or better tooth decay rates in 12-year-olds (WHO figures online) without using the crude, unethical and reckless approach of putting a known toxic substance into the drinking water, and forcing it on people who don’t want it. 'Ironically, our bottom line is dwarfed by the hundreds of millions of dollars expended to promote, instigate and maintain fluoridation programs throughout the United States from organized dentistry, misinformed foundations, federal, state and local governments. If only Tom Curran and his colleagues could recognize that fluoridation is an outdated practice there would be a lot more money available to actually improve oral health." View Comment

Prominent Dentists Warn that Drinking Fluoridated Water is Risky Breaking away from dental school dogma, more dentists are speaking out against fluoridation because fluoride chemicals, added to Yorktown's water supply intending to reduce tooth decay, is actually a money-wasting health risk. Seven NYC Council Members sponsored legislation to stop fluoridation in NYC to preserve money and health. Hydrofluosilicic acid, a lead- and arsenic-laced chemical compound left-over from making phosphate fertilizer is the most used fluoridation material. Dentist Caree Alexander, a former Navy practitioner, then a private practice dentist for 20 years, says fluoridation is "totally ineffective and actually damaging as well." Dr. Alexander says, "When I graduated from University, we weren't given any information about where [fluoride] came from. We all assumed it was [pharmaceutical-grade] calcium fluoride." Prominent NYC dentist and Huffington Post Contributor, Dr. Thomas Connelly, writes, "I do not see the good in fluoridating our drinking water ... To me, the 'bad' it can (potentially) do outweighs the good." Dr. Andrew Harms, former President, Australian Dental Association, who once supported fluoridation, says, "I deeply regret this ... when I did read the science about 10 years ago, I started to get serious concerns." Dr. Harms says, "To my amazement, when I tried to raise the issue with the [Australian] Dental Association, whom I thought were interested in the science and ... integrity, there was no interest. In fact there was a lot of pressure against me to say anything at all. There was a great concern about upsetting our principle sponsors, the toothpaste manufacturers, who heavily compromise our University," says Harms in a video documentary, Firewater. Dentist Hardy Limeback, Ph.D., University of Toronto Professor and Head, Preventive Dentistry, apologized for promoting fluoridation because toxicology research shows the purported benefits no longer outweigh the risks. Dentist Bill Osmunson, promoted fluoridation for 25 years until his patients persuaded him to read the science, "It [was] like a knee in the gut," he says. "Science has turned against fluoridation and we must stop adding fluoride to water." Dentist David Kennedy, International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), past president and Fluoride Information Officer, says, "Water fluoridation delivers a drug to infants at a level which would be gross malpractice if prescribed by a physician or dentist." IAOMT is a network of dental, medical and research professionals which supports the effort to inform consumers about health risks from water fluoridation. Dentist Jennifer Luke, Ph.D., says, "My [published] work showed that fluoride accumulates in the human pineal gland and lowers melatonin production in animals. I find it extraordinary that no government promoting fluoridation has chosen to pursue these worrying findings." Dentist and Doctor of Medical Science, Elise Bassin, published unrefuted scientific evidence showing that fluoride can increase the risk of osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer) in boys and young men. More than 4,293 professionals (including 343 dentists and 538 MD’s) urge that fluoridation be stopped citing scientific evidence that ingesting fluoride is ineffective at reducing tooth decay and has serious health risks. See statement: http://www.fluoridealert.org/researchers/professionals-statement/text/ View Comment

Fluoridation Opposition is Scientific, Respectable & Growing More than 4,293 professionals (including 343 dentists and 538 MD’s) urge that fluoridation be stopped citing scientific evidence that ingesting fluoride is ineffective at reducing tooth decay and has serious health risks. See statement: http://www.fluoridealert.org/researchers/professionals-statement/text/ Dr. Yolanda Whyte, a primary care pediatrician, explains why she no longer supports water fluoridation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iu9HzaVbWQ Dentist Bill Osmunson explains why he no longer supports fluoridation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ys9q1cvKGk In 2006, a National Research Council expert panel published a fluoride report which revealed that fluoride, even at low doses added to water supplies, can be especially harmful to the thyroid gland, kidney patients, babies, seniors and people who drink high amounts of water. They also revealed critical fluoride safety studies have never been done and studies linking fluoride to cancer and lower IQ are plausible. Thirty-four human studies now link fluoride to lowered IQ, some at levels considered safe in the US. See: http://www.fluoridealert.org/articles/iq-facts/ After 67 years of water fluoridation, the Centers for Disease Control reports that up to 60% of 12-15 year-olds are affected with fluoride overdose symptoms – dental fluorosis, white spotted, yellow, brown and/or pitted teeth. Yet, the CDC says More young kids face cavity crisis in US Tooth decay crises are occurring in all fluoridated cities, states and countries because Americans can’t afford dental care. New dental professionals are being created. New dental schools opened and others are planned, according to the American Dental Association. Emergency rooms are flooded with people in dental pain, costing taxpayers millions of dollars, because 80% of dentists refuse Medicaid patients, 130 million Americans don’t have dental insurance. Many of those that do have insurance can’t afford dentistry’s high out-of-pocket costs. No American is or ever was fluoride-deficient. Too many are dentist-deficient. New York State communities which have already stopped or rejected fluoridation include: Suffolk, Nassau & Rockland counties, Albany, Elba, Naples, Levittown, Canton, Corning, Johnstown, Oneida, Carle Place, Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Riverhead, Central Bridge Water District, Homer, Ithaca, Rouses Point, Romulus and Amsterdam. The CDC reports that 225 less communities adjusted for fluoride between 2006 and 2008. Over 100 US and Canadian communities rejected fluoridation since 2008; many in 2012. This election day, fluoridation was defeated 60% to 40% in a Wichita, Kansas. In 2012, 33,000 Portland, Oregon petition-signers halted the ill-advised fluoridation mandate by the Portland City Commission to require a vote of the people. Most of Western Europe and major world cities do not fluoridate the water. Yet tooth decay rates are similar. According to NYS Department of Health studies, highly fluoridated NYS counties do not have less tooth decay than more fluoridated NYS counties. See chart: http://www.freewebs.com/fluoridation/chart.htm For more info: http://www.FluorideAction.Net Evidence that fluoridation has failed in NYS http://www.freewebs.com/fluoridation/fluoridationfailsnewyork.htm View Comment

In 1990, the New York State Department of Health published a study, “Fluoride: Benefits and Risks of Exposure,” alerting officials that fluoride can be harmful to kidney patients, diabetics and those with fluoride hypersensitivity even at “optimal” levels . ( http://cro.sagepub.com/content/1/4/261.long ). Kaminsky et. al report: "The available data suggest that some individuals may experience hypersensitivity to fluoride-containing agents” and " …individuals with renal insufficiency who consume large quantities of fluoridated water are at an increased risk of developing skeletal fluorosis [bone damage].” Further, dental fluorosis [discolored teeth] was reported in diabetics who consume large volumes of water containing 0.5 to 1.0 mg fluoride/liter, the latter equal to NYS’s fluoridated water supplies. Research in these areas were advised but never conducted. So claims of fluoridation’s total safety are not backed up by any research. The American Dental Association admits in its Fluoridation Facts booklet that "decreased fluoride removal may occur among persons with severely impaired kidney function who may not be on kidney dialysis." The National Kidney Foundation withdrew its fluoridation endorsement in 2007, with advice that “individuals with CKD [Chronic Kidney Disease] should be notified of the potential risk of fluoride exposure.” Malfunctioning kidneys do not properly filter fluoride from the body which can cause fluoride to build up to damaging levels in the body. In 2006, a National Research Council expert panel published a fluoride report which revealed that fluoride, even at low doses added to water supplies, can be especially harmful to the thyroid gland, kidney patients, babies, seniors and people who drink high amounts of water. They also revealed critical fluoride safety studies have never been done and studies linking fluoride to cancer and lower IQ are plausible. Thirty-four human studies now link fluoride to lowered IQ, some at levels considered safe in the US. See: http://www.fluoridealert.org/articles/iq-facts/ As a result of the NRC report, the CDC, ADA and many health, government and dental organizations now advise the infant formula should not routinely be mixed with fluoridated water to avoid creating dental fluorosis (discolored teeth) in baby's new teeth . http://www.FormulaFluoride.Webs.com Yet, the NYS Department of Health has not made sure this information gets to new parents and caregivers. View Comment

Great Trailer for new movie, “Fluoridegate” features New York City children at NYC Councilman Vallone's Rally Against Fluoridation along with prominent professionals. Vallone introduced legislation to stop fluoridation in NYC. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws_bbnfwDC8&feature=youtu.be View Comment

Dental journal article reveals that dentists know little about the fluoride science In an article in the January issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) authors Armfield and Melbye indicate that "Studies of dentists' attitudes about water fluoridation suggest that a lack of knowledge and preparedness are barriers to discussing the topic ... more than one-half of the respondents believed they needed more information and training on the issue," Armfield and Melbye postulate that: "Dentists' lack of self-efficacy with respect to critically evaluating scientific literature may help to explain their reluctance to promote water fluoridation in their clinical practices." To compensate for dentists' inadequate understanding of fluoride science, the JADA article encourages dentists to use "political campaigns" and their "reputation with the public" to promote fluoridation. They write: "Advocacy through dental societies, such as participation in lobbying efforts, also may be an effective way for dentists to promote water fluoridation." Little seems to have changed since the ADA's Council on Dental Health and Health Planning issued this unprofessional advice in a 1979 White paper: "Individual dentists must be convinced that they need not be familiar with scientific reports and field investigations on fluoridation to be effective participants and that non- participation is overt neglect of professional responsibility." Being unfamiliar with the scientific literature is far more serious today than it was in 1979. for more info http://www.fluorideaction.net/issues/health View Comment