To the Journal editor:

State College Borough in Pennsylvania voted to end water fluoridation in 2022. “Systemic application removes medical consent and freedom of choice,” Kern (Water Authority member) wrote. “Fluoride can only be removed from water by reverse osmosis and ion exchange resins, which may be financially difficult or unattainable for residents to install in their homes.”

Many communities in Wisconsin and Michigan ended water fluoridation, including Alpena. “I’m not a chemist, I’m not a doctor, and I’m not a scientist,” Alpena Mayor Waligora said. “We are required by the government to provide safe and clean drinking water, so I will be on the side of eliminating the fluoride.”

Utah recently became the first state to ban water fluoridation. As a concession, for those who advocate for the ingestion of fluoride, the state has offered free optional fluoride tablets.

The synthetic fluoride chemical added to the public’s water supply is not natural and is usually Hydrofluorosilicic Acid, a toxic discharge from the aluminum/fertilizer industries. If it wasn’t sold to cities for fluoridation, it must be disposed of at hazardous waste facilities.

There is little to no statistical evidence that adding fluoride to the water supply is effective.

Cochrane Collaboration Review in 2024, concludes: ..“this equates to a difference in dmft of approximately one-quarter of a tooth in favour of CWF… the possibility of benefit and no benefit.”

The LOTUS 2024 Study, the largest study ever done, concludes: “Receipt of optimal water fluoridation 2010-2020 resulted in very small positive health effects which may not be meaningful for individuals.”

WHO’s data from 2012 showed no difference at all in cavity rates between fluoridated and unflouridated nations.

Yet, proponents of fluoridation continue to claim otherwise based on dogmatic beliefs.

There are many factors that cause or prevent tooth decay, adding a toxic chemical to the water supply is not the solution, poses unreasonable risk to people’s health, and goes against informed consent.

Places like Negaunee Township and Houghton have never fluoridated their water yet are not statistically worse off.

The Untold Story of Fluoridation, 2018, PubMed: “A diseased kidney is unable to effectively excrete fluoride… Once fluoride is put in the water, it is impossible to control the dose each individual receives …. subsets… vulnerable to fluoride’s toxic effects … the elderly, the diabetics, and people with poor kidney function… the poor, who are precisely the people being targeted by new fluoridation programs. While being at a heightened risk, poor families are less able to afford avoidance measures, for example, bottled water or fluoride removal equipment. Fluoridation of community drinking water is considered unethical because individuals are not being asked for their informed consent prior to medication.”

Both JAMA’s 2019 and 2025’s water fluoridation studies show a strong association with lower IQs and the developing brain, acting as a neurotoxin.

Those of us who would like to see an end to water fluoridation simply want choice. Fluoride products are readily available. Choice is key.

Resources: http://www.facebook.com/FluorideFreeIshpemingandNegaunee

CARRIE PLUMMER

Negaunee