June 17, 2009 - Thunder Bay District Health Unit was pleased to receive a strong endorsement of the value of community water fluoridation from the Chief Medical Officer of Health for the Province of Ontario.
The attached memo by Dr. David Williams Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario and former Medical Officer of Health for the District of Thunder Bay was distributed to health units on May 26, 2009. It is especially timely for the Thunder Bay District Health Unit as it is currently involved in helping the citizens of Thunder Bay to understand the benefits of community water fluoridation.
“The value of water fluoridation should not be underestimated,” stated Williams.
“According to sound research, fluoridated drinking water greatly reduces the number of cavities in children’s teeth, which contributes to their healthy development. Therefore, I find no reason for Ontarians to avoid drinking fluoridated water at the recommended levels in Ontario’s drinking water.”
A 2005 study indicated decay rates among Thunder Bay’s five-year-old children were 50% higher than decay rates among Sudbury’s five-year-old children - Sudbury has a fluoridated water supply. Every year since that study, decay rates in Thunder Bay children continue to rise while Sudbury’s rates have continued to decline.
The Board of Health recognized that this urgent child health issue required action. In December 2007, the Board of Health recommended that the City of Thunder Bay follow the example of Sudbury and many other communities in Ontario and begin to fluoridate the municipal water supply. City Administration is currently engaged in a study on the feasibility of Thunder Bay beginning this important public health practice.
Williams, who was the Thunder Bay District Medical Officer of Health for more than 14 years before becoming a provincial public health leader, encourages Medical Officers of Health across Ontario to maintain their efforts to have community water fluoridation adopted for all Ontarians.
“…(T)he decision to fluoridate local drinking water is made by each municipality in consultation with local residents. It is an effective public measure that reduces social inequalities in health. . . It benefits all residents in a community, and for these reasons we fully expect that this important practice will continue for many years to come so that Ontarians can enjoy lasting health benefits,” said Williams.
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