Fluoridation is a matter of putting something in water that belongs there.
It is not a matter of adding | something extra.
This was brought out today in an interview with Dr. Robert L. Simmons, Orleans Parish Medical Society's representative at recent City Hall hearings on fluoridation of the city's water
supply.
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DR. SIMMONS, professor of preventive medicine at the LSU medical school, said, "The reason fluoridation has become recognized as being valuable is because it occurs naturally in certain areas."
He said medical authorities in Texas noticed a smaller amount of dental decay in certain areas of the state.
"Studies made to follow this up showed it was actually the fluoride part of the water which caused beneficial results."
"In proper dosage, fluorides in the water cut down tooth decay so people in the areas had about 60 per cent less decay than persons in araes with no fluoride," Dr. Simmons said.
"The conclusion was that if fluoride oceuring naturally will prevent dental decay, then why not put fluoride in water supplies where it does not occur naturally, and get the same results.