The districts that supply drinking water to 80 percent of Maine’s population are free to begin reducing fluoride to a level recommended Friday by federal officials.
Maine’s current standard calls for between one and two parts per million of fluoride, which has been shown to prevent tooth decay. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced plans Friday to lower that level – for the first time in almost half a century – to 0.7.
“We knew that the research was going on, so it didn’t come as a surprise,” said Dr. Stephen Sears, the state’s acting director of the Center for Disease Control. “It isn’t like all of a sudden on Friday the health benefits vs. the dental benefits changed dramatically. This is a reasoned approach.”
Sears said the state will change its rules to reflect the new recommendations, a process that will take about three months. In the meantime, he encouraged water districts to lower fluoride levels immediately.
He also recommended that residents who draw water from wells continue to test levels of naturally-occurring fluoride, which may be higher than recommended.
Recent studies suggest too much fluoride can cause splotches on children’s teeth and perhaps other, more serious problems involving bone abnormalities.
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