The water fluoridation debate continues to rage across the Valley following the Eden Magnet story on November 16, investigating the BVSC’s commitment to introducing water fluoridation across the entire shire’s water system.
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Since publication, director of the Beach Street dental clinic Dr Maria Claudianos – strongly against water fluoridation on the grounds of ethics and detrimental side-effects – has sent numerous information emails and testimonials to councillors and BVSC general manager Leanne Barnes, to alert the council to alleged negative risks of water fluoridation.
The Eden Magnet contacted the BVSC on Monday November 30 asking for a response by Ms Barnes to Dr Claudianos’ emails.
The Magnet also requested details about the “information package” promised by Mayor Michael Britten as part of the proposed public awareness campaign preceding a final decision about water fluoridation.
Ms Barnes did not answer the two questions, instead providing arguments supporting water fluoridation.
“The state government supports drinking water fluoridation as an effective, efficient, socially equitable and safe population approach to the prevention of tooth decay,” Ms Barnes wrote to the Magnet on Tuesday December 1.
“In 2007 and 2013 the National Health and Medical Research Council concluded that water fluoridation should continue as a primary tool in the prevention of tooth decay.”
Meanwhile, Fairfax Facebook sites have been abuzz with personal stories and opinions as varied as water fluoridation science.
“Good dental hygiene and a healthy diet comes before all else, don’t depend on water alone to solve all these issues,” wrote Bega resident Sherry Lucas.
“Europe has banned it,” wrote Pambula Beach resident Judy Halloran.
“It’s all the chemicals that are causing such a high rate of cancer, dementia. We need change. Fluoride is not it.”
But others voice strong support for water fluoridation, including ex-Bega dentist Michael Cahill who said the introduction of water fluoridation to Bega in 1963 was a positive decision.
“I, for one, don’t want to go back to the bad old days when I was admitting patients almost weekly to the Bega Hospital for full mouth extractions,” Mr Cahill wrote in the Bega District News Facebook.
“These were invariably people from towns and farms outside of Bega.”
