Fayette County resolution supports local control of fluoride

The subject of adding fluoride to municipal drinking water has again floated to the surface of Fayette County’s legislative concerns. The Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 on Dec. 10 to endorse a resolution that encourages the Fayette County delegation to the General Assembly to consider amending state law to allow individual cities and counties to decide via referendum if they want to add fluoride to their drinking water.

Fluoridation is currently required under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Board of Natural Resources, which limits the concentration to one part per million. The commissioners did not discuss the issue before voting this time, but have previously discussed whether or not mandatory fluoridation poses a possible health risk to consumers and whether the county should have the authority to opt out of it.

Fluoride supplementation is endorsed by the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a means of preventing tooth decay.