Day: July 23, 2014

The question was posed-
Dr Bakland can you give us some professional input on the taking Floride out of the drinking water debate?

I don’t know the first thing about it but lately I’ve been getting a ton of press releases on it.

Much like the “don’t get your kid vaccinated” push I don’t want to put out a bunch of statistics put together by pseudo scientists.

Can you shed some fact based light on the issue before it comes in front of the City Council?

Update: Dr Bakland’s Office Assistant Angela just called to tell me the Good Doctor is out of the office currently but she will relay the message

Update #2 The good Doctor has spoken.

I said I’d wait to hear from someone I knew and trusted that had a ton of experience in first hand dentistry to hear what they had to say on the Flouride in water issue. Dr Leif Bakland is my guy. If you know Dr Bakland then you know he doesn’t have any hidden agenda other than to put his patient care first. I value his opinion and he gave it-

Leif Bakland
HarborCoveDental.com

Submitted on 2014/07/21 at 10:43 pm
Hi Joey, evidently, fluoride is a hot topic. I will say that I am definitely for fluoridated water supply. It’s safe and effective. I’ve been in practice for over 30 years and have treated families from fluoridated and non fluoridated communities, there Is a difference!

There you have it. I have a feeling it doesn’t matter to those who already had their minds made up but I’m going with the local guy without an agenda and with over 30 years first hand experience.

Harbor Cove Dental, where all the cool kids get their teeth taken care of.

Updated 7/23/14

July 23, 2014

City health chiefs back continuing fluoride use

By James Niedzinski Staff Writer

Gloucester’s public health leaders support the continued addition of fluoride to the city’s drinking water, but a local anti-fluoridation group is trying to have the mineral removed.

The debate surfaced earlier in Rockport, where voters at an upcoming Town Meeting will decide whether to put a fluoride question on a ballot for the next local election.

The issue was raised by the Cape Ann Fluoride Action Network, a group that is trying to remove fluoride from the city’s water, as well.

“Our mission is to educate the public on the dangers of fluoride and petition the city to remove fluoride from the drinking water,” said Tracey Chiancola, member of the action network and a Gloucester resident.

She said sodium fluoride first surfaced as a byproduct of the aluminum industry in the 1940s and 1950s.

“I became concerned we’re drinking this substance that’s toxic,” she said. From there, she reached out to doctors, dentists and members of various institutes. She said some problems caused by sodium fluoride include learning disabilities and brain development. She also said a majority of Europe has unfluoridated water, with similar rates in tooth decay.

In response, however — and in an effort to better educate the public about their view — Dr. Richard Sagall, who chairs the city’s Board of Health and Noreen Burke, Gloucester’s public health director say the benefits of fluoride are clear.

For the entire article at the Gloucester Daily Times website click here