LISTEN: Some states have banned or are considering banning fluoride from drinking water. One doctor, Dr. Cecil Bennett, explains to GPB's Peter Biello why that's a bad idea.

Almost two-thirds of Americans have access to drinking water that contains a small amount of fluoride. Local governments add fluoride to water to help prevent cavities. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has advocated for the removal of fluoride from drinking water, citing the potential harm of drinking too much. Recently the state of Utah recently passed a law banning its addition to public water supplies, and other states may follow suit. GPB’s Peter Biello recently spoke with Dr. Cecil Bennett, medical director for Noonan Family Medicine Associates, about fluoride in public water systems.

Peter Biello: The CDC has said that fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear. As a physician, do you have any concerns about the amount of fluoride in Georgians' drinking water?

Dr. Cecil Bennett: I think the fact that fluoride is readily available to all Georgians through regular drinking water tremendously decreases the risk of tooth decay and promotes good oral health.

Peter Biello: The argument that critics make is that fluoride is not meant to be ingested. It's great to use in toothpaste or at the dentist's office, but adding it to water is simply a way for the government to make a health decision for you without your consent. What do you make of that argument?

Dr. Cecil Bennett: We have to look at what the studies have told us. And there's no doubt that having fluoride in water decreases the risk of tooth decay in children by as much as 25%. Those are just proven points based on multiple studies that have been done.

Peter Biello: Are you concerned about the possible health effects?

Dr. Cecil Bennett: Well, here again, we have policies that may not affect individuals in the middle or upper class, but would definitely affect individuals who are poor. And why do I say that? Well, if you don't use a toothpaste with fluoride, because you're buying cheaper toothpaste, that's an issue for the poorer folks in our state. If you're looking at natural ways to get fluoride: You can get fluoride from eating seafood, such as shrimp or crab, etc. Again, those who are poorer in the state are not going to be able to afford to eat that type of diet on a regular basis. There are certain teas that you can drink: again, not part of the usual diet of individuals who are poor in the state. So having fluoride in water was the most efficient way of leveling the playing field to make sure we decrease risk of tooth decay and cavities, especially in our children. But why is it also important in adults? There's no doubt that studies have showed that poor oral hygiene increased the risk of cardiovascular disease. So this is not just an issue that will affect our children. It will also affect our adults, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, which will increase the increased health care costs and increased morbidity and mortality.

Peter Biello: In the course of your practice as a physician, have you ever seen anybody who suffered ill health effects because of too much fluoride?

Dr. Cecil Bennett: Never in 22 years of practicing, never through residency, never through medical school. It is a non-issue. What we don't see are excessive number of children with decaying teeth because fluoride is in drinking water and protects enamel.

Peter Biello: What about well water? What can people expect from their well water with respect to fluoride?

Dr. Cecil Bennett: There are minerals, of course — well water is rich in many minerals, which may include fluoride. But again, it's not a consistent source of getting fluoride as drinking water.

Peter Biello: There are filters that people can buy that would remove fluoride from the drinking water if — if they wanted. Do you think this is an appropriate way to say to those who are concerned, "Look, if you're concerned, get one of these filters, and then you will be able to choose when you want fluoride in your teeth."

Dr. Cecil Bennett: Those again who can afford to do that, that's perfectly fine for them to do it. But it's absolutely no need for general population in the state of Georgia to worry about getting too much fluoride from drinking water. This is my concern, overall, is that we're going backwards. We're not going forward. As I said earlier, fluoride has been proven to decrease the risk of cavities in our children by as much as 25%. We're attacking the measles vaccine and we're seeing outbreaks of measles. There's so many areas that — that we're attacking our children. And that's the part that's concerning to me, is that a lot of these changes in policies affect our children in the next generation. So my word to every single Georgian is to protect the teeth of your children and insist that fluoride remain in drinking water in the state.

Tags: fluoride  water  Public Policy  Georgia  health  health  Health  Children's Health