Will New Kentucky Bill Lead to a Rise in Toothless Teenagers?
Kentucky’s state assembly is thinking of removing the state’s community water fluoridation requirement for communities with more than 3,000 residents. Kentucky ranks 45th for overall oral health.
While Kentucky remains near dead last in rankings for its population’s oral health — mostly due to low rates of dental visits and high prevalence of dental caries — the state legislature is considering eliminating a community water fluoridation requirement for communities with more than 3,000 residents.
Kentucky’s rural counties have severe shortages of oral health professionals with six counties citing the absence of a single dentist. For populations with little access to professional dental care, community water fluoridation can make the difference when it comes to preventing tooth loss.
House Bill 103, sponsored by Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, easily swept through the House and now is waiting on a Senate vote. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that water fluoridation is one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. However, controversy has grown over the past several years due to some studies linking lower childhood IQ with fluoride exposure and a growing number of fluoride sources including over-the-counter dental products, drinks, and processed foods. Click here to read more.
