PORTLAND, Maine — Dental health specialists are beginning to weigh in as questions about the benefits or possible dangers of water fluoridation have increased in the past few weeks.
President-elect Donald Trump appointed several people to lead federal agencies since being elected weeks ago, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who raised questions about the health impacts of fluoride exposure.
If approved and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Kennedy would assume the role of secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He said one of his first plans as secretary would be to advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water.
Kennedy based his reasoning on misleading negative effects that fluoride on has on IQ levels.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites community water fluoridation as one of the 10 great public health achievements in the 20th century, stating it provides protection against tooth decay for people who may have limited access to preventive dental care.
The federal agency points to research showing that communities where fluoridation was available showed decreases in childhood tooth decay by nearly 30 percent over 12 years of follow-up.
According to Maine Oral Health Program, fluoridation reduces tooth decay by about 25 percent over a person's lifetime. Each dollar spent on community water fluoridation saves at least $38 in costs for dental treatment.
Paul Hunt has worked for the Portland Water District for 25 years. As the environmental manger, he monitors water quality.
Portland Water District is one of several water utility companies in Maine and in the country that fluoridates water.
"We are fluoridating the water because our customers told us that that's what they want," Hunt said.
Maine state law requires water utility companies to fluoridate water if customers vote in favor of water fluoridation. Essentially, the customers are in charge. But given the benefits that dentists say water fluoridation provides, Hunt said he would be disappointed if Portland Water District stopped adding fluoride to drinking water.
"It would be unwise for me not to defer to doctors and dentists who have spent their whole career learning about what is good health practice and what isn't," he said.
Hunt said his job is to ensure water quality and nothing more. He explained he leaves the decisions about how water fluoridation should be regulated and its impacts on health up to health and dental experts.
Dentist Maurice Convey had been practicing in the profession since 1995. Convey was the president of the Maine Dental Association in 2005, and he has run his own practice, Oxford Hills Dental Associates in Norway, since 1995.
Norway was the first town in Maine to approve community water fluoridation back in 1951.
Convey said fluoride from toothpaste helps reduce cavities from the outside of the tooth, but fluoride from water strengthens your enamel from inside out, replacing minerals lost because of normal wear and tear.
Towns like South Paris, which neighbors Norway, still don't have community water fluoridation. Convey said he sees the negative impacts of its absence every day in his office and has a strong take when he hears people say fluoride is not needed in water.
"They're completely wrong. They're not listening to research that is considered real science," Convey said.
Without it, Convey said there will be lasting negative effects.
"Dental health is going to be negatively impacted," Convey said. "Kids are going to get a lot more cavities, especially today, with the assault of energy drinks and soda."
To see if your town or city's water supply company fluoridates water, click here.