Everyone won as a result of the vote regarding fluoridation of the water at the City Council meeting last Tuesday. Those who opposed it, either because of the fluoride inclusion or because of the cost, won. Those who favored the fluoridation can point to an alternative that could be much more effective, if it works as intended.
The concern expressed by the majority of Water Advisory Committee was that it had determined that fluoridation of water was so important to prevention of dental decay, particularly in the children of the poorer families, that whatever the cost, it was worth the benefits, even if only a very small percentage of the total water used was ingested.
What was missing in the whole discussion was the lack of information on both sides that the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, has provisions for expanded dental care for the children of low-income families that includes preventive care — education and routine check-ups and treatment.
The preventive care includes such treatment as sealants, etc., with the approval of parents and education, which should include tooth brushing and flossing and no bottles or sippy cups in mouths for extended periods of time and not just avoiding junk foods, but including more nutritious foods in the diets of the children.
Homework for all: Read as much of the ACA as possible; it touches everyone.