Wyandotte officials vote against restoring fluoride to drinking water: ‘I have my reasons why’ 

Don’t miss out!

Join more than 13,000 of your neighbors who already receive our informative, independent reporting on climate, health and the environment in their inbox each week.

Sign me up

Wyandotte officials said no Wednesday to the resumption of drinking water fluoridation, which stopped in 2015 with little public notice.

The Wyandotte Municipal Services Commission voted 2-2 on the issue, insufficient to pass the resolution. Commissioner Paul Gouth was absent from the meeting.

Commissioner Robert Kirby voted against the resolution to restore fluoridation and said diet and dental hygiene are more important for children.

“The underserved, I believe, can get toothpaste with fluoride,” he said, following public commenters who said the children, older adults, and other vulnerable groups could be most impacted by the health impacts from a lack of fluoridation.

Kirby said he’s fine with Wyandotte voters weighing in on the fluoridation issue in the future.

Commissioner Christopher Brohl also voted against fluoridation. When asked to explain his vote after the meeting, he said: “I have my reasons why; I don’t need to make a comment.”

Commission President Bryan Hughes introduced the fluoridation resolution and voted in favor, along with Commissioner Carolyn Harris. Hughes declined to comment following the meeting.   

The hearing comes after an April 30 state drinking water system survey that called attention to Wyandotte’s lack of fluoridation and found “significant deficiencies” with Wyandotte Municipal Services’ treatment, distribution, and storage of drinking water as well as problems with the system’s oversight.

“If there is a prolonged interruption in fluoridation, it is imperative for the water supply to notify the public so residents can make informed decisions about their oral health,” the report said.

While Wyandotte discontinued fluoride in 2015, the city website said until June of this year that it fluoridates its drinking water.

Wyandotte residents divided over fluoride

Around 30 residents, health experts, and dentists attended Wednesday night’s hearing on water fluoridation, with commenters nearly evenly divided on the issue. Several of those opposing the measure said fluoride is a “neurotoxin” and readily available in toothpaste. 

Many of those in favor cited scientific studies showing the safety of fluoride and its positive impact on dental health.

“The safety and efficacy of fluoride is unquestioned in scientific literature,” said Jeff Johnston, chief science officer at Delta Dental of Michigan. 

If fluoride is not added to the water, the “truly underserved” will suffer the most, Johnston said. He asked the commission whether funds will be made available to help those affected.

#Ad

Wyandotte resident Victoria Bondy said water fluoridation is a mistaken, “one size fits all” approach.

“If somebody feels like they need more fluoride, they should be supplementing .. .that’s a person-by-person decision,” Bondy said.

The science of fluoride

U.S. medical groups overwhelmingly endorse water fluoridation as an inexpensive and effective means of protecting oral health and preventing problems like dental abscesses.

Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fluoridation has faced pushback in recent years.

“There’s growing evidence that it can cause developmental disabilities in growing children,” Wyandotte resident Mark Stotsky said at Wednesday’s hearing. 

A report last year from the federal government’s National Toxicology Program concluded that drinking water with more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter, more than twice the CDC’s recommended level, is associated with lower IQs in children.

The report summarized studies conducted in Canada, China, Denmark, India, Iran, New Zealand, Pakistan, Mexico, Spain, and Taiwan.

Margherita Fontana, a professor at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, previously told Planet Detroit that many of these studies looked at water supplies that may have contained not only fluoride, but contaminants that could have impacted IQ and were not well accounted for in the research.

Better quality studies have been unable to find an association between fluoride and reduced cognitive function, she said.

Others have warned of the dangers to communities if fluoridation is stopped.

Dr. Christopher Gorecki, a dentist and spokesperson for the Michigan Dental Association, drew the commission’s attention to the example of Calgary, Alberta, at a Wyandotte Municipal Services Commission meeting Oct. 8. 

The city removed fluoride from its water in 2011 and saw an increase in dental cavities in children. A subsequent study showed 64.8% of Calgary children in second grade had one or more cavities in their baby teeth compared to 55.1% in Edmonton, where the municipal water supply is fluoridated.

In 2021, 62% of Calgary voters supported reintroduction of fluoride, and the city began adding it to drinking water again this year.

How should Wyandotte residents protect their teeth?

Dr. Judith Jones, an adjunct professor of dentistry and public health at the University of Detroit Mercy, told Planet Detroit in June that Wyandotte parents should have fluoride drops prescribed for their children, while older adults can use fluoride toothpaste and obtain a prescription for a high strength fluoride gel to apply after brushing.

Jones also advised those without fluoride in their water to keep their teeth “spotlessly clean,” flossing and brushing for 2 minutes twice a day. She said they should visit their dentist twice a year and eat sweets only once a day.

After Wednesday’s meeting concluded, Kimberly Raleigh, interim executive director of the Michigan Oral Health Coalition, a health advocacy organization, said the decision is a step backward.  

The commission should have listened to the institutions and organizations supporting fluoridation, she said. 

“It’s just beyond disappointing and sad. And I feel bad for the children and the elderly.”