Columbia, TN, votes to stop fluoridating water supply

(http://www.wsmv.com) Residents of Columbia, Tennessee, and parts of surrounding Maury County will soon have access to clean, non-fluoridated water. This public health victory was achieved when Columbia's Board of Public Utilities voted on Wednesday to stop using fluoride in the water supply. This decision will affect about 27,000 customers.

Fluoride consumption has been linked to brain, tooth and bone damage, despite the status quo insisting that it improves dental health. In fact, fluoride is only beneficial on the surface of the teeth and can be harmful when ingested. Therefore, it should be up to an individual to decide whether to use fluoride or not, and the safest way to do so would be through the normal use of toothpaste. Fluoride tablets are also available in many areas for people who wish to swish a fluoride solution in their mouth.

The city utility is expected to save $45,000 annually by ceasing fluoridation. Before the vote, board members received more than 200 pages of information from both sides of the debate, so they were able to make an informed decision to benefit public health.