FAN Bulletin #972

June 14, 2008

Dear Supporter,

The effort by the Louisiana Dental Association (LDA) to slip mandatory fluoridation through the State legislature without any one noticing, has been upset. The LDA has been forced into a frenzy of activity in an effort to combat the avalanche of email messages that FAN members have sent in (about 1200) to Louisiana’s House of Representatives. See the LDA’s WEB ALERT and the counter online message they organized, below.

Now that SB 312 has gone back to the Senate because of modifciations made by the House, we are continuing to send emails in ? but this time to the Senators. So far over 100 of you have sent a message to the Senate. Thank you. If you haven’t sent in a message to the Senators it is very easy to do so, using our ONLINE MESSAGE system at http://tinyurl.com/3s4fmc

Because it is so easy for these messages to become a number rather than a heartfelt personal message it would be very helpful if you would add a first line to the message to introduce yourself. What you do for a living (especially if you are a doctor, dentist, nurse, professor etc. or as someone who is sensitive to fluoride or work for a water department). Failing that simply explain how you got involved in this battle for safe water, and why SB 312 is important to you even though you don’t live in Louisiana.

You might also wish to craft a new message which addresses some of LDA’s false arguments below. Simply paste in your new message and a new title, such as “LDA’s false claims on fluoridation” at http://tinyurl.com/3s4fmc

Thank you for all you are doing to help end this foolish practice around the world. As Martin Luther King said, “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.”

Paul Connett
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From Louisiana Dental Association’s Website http://www.votervoice.net/Core.aspx?AID=179&Screen=alert&IssueId=14204&SessionID=%24AID%3d179%3aSITEID%3d-1%3aVV_CULTURE%3den-us%3aAPP%3dGAC%24

WEB ALERT

Opposition groups bombard reps with e-mails as LDA Water Fluoridation goes to full House

The Fluoride Action Network FAN is a group of activists dedicated to opposing community water fluoridation (CWF).  This group has become aware of the LDA’s initiative to expand CWF statewide and is encouraging its supporters nationwide to send e-mails to the Louisiana House of Representatives urging them to vote against the LDA’s fluoridation bill, SB312.

IN THE PAST WEEK, FAN ACTIVISTS HAVE FLOODED THE LA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH HUNDREDS OF E-MAILS LAMBASTING THE LDA’S EFFORT.  In response, fewer than 50 LDA members sent messages to their representative this week.  

WE DESPERATELY NEED YOU TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS ISSUE.  IT LITERALLY TAKES ONLY A FEW SECONDS.

The FAN messages contain several inaccuracies and cites a few studies (the results of which are counter to literally hundreds of other studies).  To see how FAN is marshaling their supporters, go to: http://www.fluoridealert.org/ and click on the link labeled “Help Save Louisiana from Mandatory Fluoridation.” You’ll see why it’s important that YOUR legislator hears from YOU ASAP to set the record straight.

Community water fluoridation (CWF) is one of the most cost-effective, proven ways to reduce the incidence of tooth decay.  Yet, the number of Louisianans who currently benefit from CWF is less than 40% compared to about 64% nationwide.  SB312 would require all Louisiana water systems with 5,000 or more service connections to fluoridate to optimal levels.  Those systems not currently at optimal levels would not have to comply until the State has identified and made available funds for the initial expense, but they would have to submit cost estimates to the Department of Health and Hospitals.  The bill also includes a provision that would allow communities to opt out of fluoridation via local referendum.
 
With more than six decades of research, thousands of studies and the experience of more than 170 million Americans telling us that fluoridation is safe, effective and economical in preventing tooth decay, it’s time for Louisiana to take this step to benefit ALL it’s citizens.  A study conducted in Louisiana has shown that children who live in communities without fluoridation are three times more likely to end up in the hospital to undergo dental surgery.  Fluoridation improves the quality of life and saves vast sums of money in dental treatment costs.  In fact, another study showed that every dollar invested in CWF saved roughly $38 in dental treatment costs.
 
Please urge your legislator to vote FOR SB 312.http://www.votervoice.net/Core.aspx?AID=179&Screen=alert&IssueId=14204&SessionID=%24AID%3d179%3aSITEID%3d-1%3aVV_CULTURE%3den-us%3aAPP%3dGAC%24

The LDA online message:

As a dental professional and member of the Louisiana Dental Association (LDA), I am very concerned about the high incidence of tooth decay among Louisiana children from lower income families, which ranks among the highest in the country.  This deplorable situation is exacerbated by the difficulty such children often have accessing oral health care, due to such barriers as low Medicaid reimbursement rates among other reasons.
 
Community water fluoridation (CWF) is one of the most cost-effective, proven ways to reduce the incidence of tooth decay.  Yet, roughly two-thirds of our state’s citizens do not receive optimally fluoridated water.  By comparison, roughly two-thirds of the rest of the country DOES receive optimally fluoridated water.
 
You may have heard from activist groups who oppose CWF, typically by claiming that it poses health risks.  Please review their messages carefully.  Among the interesting things you may note are:
 
· The vast majority of these activists are from OUTSIDE Louisiana, and are not directly affected by SB312 (unlike my family, my patients and me.)
 
· They may cite obscure information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support their case, yet omit the fact that the CDC supports CWF and actually proclaimed it as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.
 
· They may refer to lobbying in support of SB312 as a “slick PR campaign” when it actually is pretty much what anyone — including those anti-fluoridation activists — does to communicate with legislators.
 
· They may encourage you to visit the Fluoride Action Network web site to get the “other side” of the story.  Well, you should also check out www.healthysmileslouisiana.org  to see “this side.”  When you do, be sure to click on the tab marked “Coalition” and note all the trusted Louisiana health care organizations that support SB312 and the plethora of large, well-known and respected health care agencies and organizations that support CWF.
 
· They may tell you that SB312 would “force” medicine on Louisiana citizens.  However, SB312 simply amends current Louisiana law, which already encourages fluoridation, to require all Louisiana water systems with 5,000 or more service connections to adjust fluoride in their water to optimal levels. (Fluoride is naturally present in some amount in ALL water systems.) Those systems not currently at optimal levels would not have to comply until the State has identified and made available funds for the initial expense. Furthermore, the bill states that any community can opt out of fluoridation via local referendum.
 
· They may cite a few studies that suggest health risks from CWF.  Yet, more than six decades of research, literally thousands of studies and the experience of more than 170 million Americans tell us that fluoridation is safe, effective and economical in preventing tooth decay.
 
· They won’t mention that every $1 invested in CWF saves $38 in dental treatment costs. And, a DHH study of CWF’s impact on Medicaid costs showed that at least 39,000 Medicaid-eligible preschoolers in Louisiana could potentially benefit from CWF, with an annual reduction in treatment costs of $1.4 million.
 
I urge you to vote FOR SB 312 and join the LDA and numerous other health care and civic organizations in our efforts to bring the benefits of community water fluoridation to Louisiana citizens.