TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — The Exchange Center at the Tulsa fairgrounds was packed earlier this year for the free dental event called Oklahoma Mission of Mercy.
“Oklahoma Mission of Mercy was one of those types of events that you almost can’t imagine what you’re seeing until you’ve seen it happen. The idea that people will come and wait for hours in the cold in order to get some basic dental care for a lot of people they can’t even imagine what that might be like,” said John Wilguess, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Dental Foundation.
The two-day event treated over 1,000 patients, illustrating the dire need for dental care in the state, and that’s with fluoride in the water, as the State Health Department’s Community Water Fluoridation Plan states, “It is recommended that all applicable public water systems in Oklahoma be fluoridated to the optimal level for oral health.” But that recommendation is now no more.
“I’m instructing the Oklahoma Department of Health to stop recommending fluoride in our water,” said Governor Stitt.
Governor Stitt welcomed US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the capitol and adopted the secretary’s position on fluoridation.
“I am so gratified about these actions that are now being taken by Governor Stitt to make Oklahoma healthy again,” said Kennedy.
“It’s not going to make Oklahoma healthy again,” said Dr. Nicole Nellis. She is the President-elect of the Oklahoma Dental Association, the sponsor of Oklahoma Mission of Mercy.
“Our studies are showing now that if we take the fluoride away we’re going to see an increase in tooth decay at least up to 25%,” she said.
While the state’s official position is to no longer promote fluoridation, the Governor’s Executive order doesn’t actually have any teeth, pun intended, when it comes to what cities and towns ultimately decide to do with their water treatment.
“Cities and water districts, they can still choose to do what they want based on their constituents and the science but it’s no longer going to be a recommendation from the state health department,” said Stitt.
“If a community decides to make that decision the population just needs to be aware of the fact that if you’re not using dental toothpaste with fluoride in it and not seeing the dentist regularly you’re going to see a higher incidence of dental decay,” said Dr. Matt Warlick of Contemporary Dental Arts.
The arrival of MOHA, with fluoride possibly on the way out and dentists concerned that more cavities are on the way in.
“Water fluoridations been around for eight decades and we know it’s a cost-effective public health measure to reduce cavities,” said Nellis.
“Today we’re going to get the ball rolling on MOHA, making Oklahoma healthy again,” said Stitt.
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