The practice of adding fluoride to drinking water has contributed to public health for decades in the United States. Fluoride fights tooth decay and for 50 years Dallas has added fluoride to the water supply as a matter of public health policy.
Many Dallas residents don’t even know this practice has opponents. In recent years, opponents to the practice have rallied city hall to consider ending fluoridation of the Dallas water supply. The Dallas County Dental Society, the local branch of the American Dental Association, took action to defend the practice, putting the issue in both a practical and financial perspective. The Dallas City Council voted not to remove fluoride from the water supply. This is an example of how the active local dental organization remains watchful and attentive to community health issues.
Is your dentist a member of the ADA? Why not ask? If your dentist is a member of the ADA, he or she is contributing to the city’s big picture of public health with initiatives like the fluoride issue and other city and state-wide health issues related to dentistry. Public awareness campaigns and information campaigns are an important part of keeping the focus on important issues related to dental health care. Membership in the ADA is one way that your dentist is making a difference outside of his or her practice.
Further reading