After the debate on Wednesday there would have been more than one councillor sinking back into their seat relieved the decision on fluoride had been taken.
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All councillors had received a mass of information from both sides of the debate. The mayor fell back on her own experience comparing her fluoridated upbringing to that of her daughter’s non-fluoridated experience and the subsequent difference in their dental health.
Councillor Sharon Tapscott took the survey results as a guideline for her view, while councillors Robyn Bain and Liz Seckold spoke of the need to ensure the disadvantaged had the benefit of having fluoride in the water for their dental health.
There were also considered arguments from the two opposing councillors.
Cathy Griff wanted a delay to see whether possible legal action in relation to Gunnedah Council’s decision to add fluoride may impact Bega Valley Shire. Her call was to wait because waiting would not hurt.
Councillor Jo Dodds was more concerned about safety issues in relation to babies, pregnant mums and possible thyroid problems, all of which can be proven or disproved depending on where your Google search takes you.
That’s been at the heart of this decision, the amount of information and science, some of it questionable, being bandied around.
But as the mayor Kristy McBain pointed out, this is not the biggest decision that council has to make – not by a long shot. She mentioned water filtration for the shire’s water systems, but could also have mentioned ocean outfall.
Perhaps much more important, although not something for council to debate, but related to dental health, is sugar.
Speakers talked about their concerns of being force fed chemicals. Sadly the manufacturers of fizzy soft drinks don’t need to worry about any such ethical concerns – we willingly take up their products to the detriment of our teeth and our waistlines.
A serious discussion about a sugar tax or a curb on the soft drink market is long overdue.
It’s time that the cost of this sweet medication was really weighed up and a deaf ear turned to the food manufacturers’ lobby, because no amount of fluoride in the water will help if we keep persisting with this particular love affair.