New campaigns to focus on Wichita water fluoridation

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May 30, 2012|By Robert Marin | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(WICHITA, Kan.) — It is a controversial issues that has come up in Wichita for years; now, expect to see new effort pushing for fluoridated water.

Educational campaigns on fluoridiation start this week from the Kansas Health Foundation and the group Wichitans for Healthy Teeth. The health foundation says Wichita is the fourth largest city in the country without fluoridated water.

"It's been used in many different communities for over 65 years and we want to show how, if you brought it to Wichita, it could prevent tooth decay in this community." said Steve Coen, CEO of the Kansas Health Foundation.

The foundation's campaign will include TV and radio ads, billboards and social media outreach. Coen says its focus will be for people to understand that fluoride is a safe and natural way to prevent tooth decay.

"We have communities in Kansas that actually do have naturally fluoridated water, communities like Dodge City, Scott City and Colby," said Coen. "It is a natural element that occurs in water".

Coen says there is already naturally occuring fluoride in Wichita water, but its level, .33 parts per million, is less than is optimal to prevent cavities. He says supporters would like the city to add a little more to the water. In the long run, he says it will save money.

"For every dollar invested in water fluoridation, it has a $38 dollar return in savings. We've done a study here locally that it will save $4.5 million in cost savings in Wichita on an annual basis." said Coen.

Opponents worry fluoride is a chemical and could have adverse effects. They also have argued in the past that the city does not need to add fluoride since people already use fluoride toothpaste. Past efforst to get the city of Wichita to fluoridate water have failed.

The Centers for Disease Control has a website to see fluoride levels in your communities water system. Click here or on the related link to see it.

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