In an episode of the TV show “Parks & Recreation”, the government of the fictional town of Pawnee was debating whether to add fluoride to its water supply. The protagonist of the show, government employee Leslie Knope, was campaigning to introduce fluoride into the public water system in order to improve dental health, especially for children. Leslie’s facing resistance from Councilperson Jeremy Jamm, who’s, also, a dentist and who would like to add sweeteners to the water supply; that would be quite lucrative to his dentistry trade. The episode might be seen as a light-hearted take on dealing with public distrust, misinformation and the intricacies of public health proposals.
But, what even is fluoride? It’s a mineral that’s said to be released from rocks into soil and water, which is added to the water you drink and the toothpaste you brush your teeth with, because it’s said to strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities, long been touted as one of the most successful interventions against tooth decay. But, should fluoride be removed from the US water supply?
