The American Dental Association has expressed its opposition to comments made on water fluoridation by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD.
Dr. Ladapo recently recommended against community water fluoridation because of the potential health risks and wide availability of alternative fluoride sources.
"The ADA believes in the use of proven, evidence-based science when making public policy decisions," Brett Kessler, DDS, president of the ADA, said in a Nov. 23 news release. "For Dr. Ladapo to call community water fluoridation 'medical malpractice' and call on all municipalities to end its practice is a dangerous statement that stands to harm the oral and overall health of all Floridians."
An August report from the National Toxicology Program concluded that higher levels of fluoride exposure are associated with lower IQ in children. The results were based on individuals who received fluoride amounts higher than 1.5 mg fluoride per drinking liter, which is more than double the current recommendation from the U.S. Public Health Service.
According to the CDC, water fluoridation helps reduce tooth decay by 25%. In Florida, 65 out of 67 counties have been designated as dental professional shortage areas.
More than 70% of Florida residents currently receive fluoridated water, according to the Florida Department of Health.