A bill moving through the Kentucky Legislature would make fluoride treatment of drinking water optional for local municipalities.
Parliamentary Bill 141 would repeal a mandate that currently requires Kentucky cities with three thousand or more residents to add fluoride to their drinking water.
Health advocacy groups and even some dental insurers have voiced opposition to the legislation.
Whitney Dietz is a dentist with practices in Davis and McCracken counties. He said he expects tooth decay rates to increase dramatically, particularly among children, if the bill becomes law.
“We see maybe three cavity events per child if there is no fluoride,” Dietz said. “That’s eight cavities per child, in one study. So when I heard that our state government was considering making this optional, I was amazed. I was absolutely shocked.”
Supporters of the bill, including co-sponsor state Rep. William Lawrence – R-Maysville – have called fluoride “forced medication.”
They argue that the legislation aims to give local governments the ability to choose whether or not to fluoridate their water supply.
Dietz said that, since the pandemic, the number of pediatric dentists in the state has dwindled — and challenges in the ability of dental health providers to participate in Medicaid and Medicare have exacerbated the problem.
He said he regularly reviews charts for hundreds of children doing volunteer work in communities and schools.
“I see kids with bombed-out non-restorable permanent molars,” Dietz said, “kids who are in pain, kids who have abscesses.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, community water fluoridation it has saved states about $6.5 billion a year by reducing the cost of dental treatment – including tooth restorations and extractions, and indirect economic losses such as lost worker productivity.
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As the summer sun shines, especially in the Sunshine State, it’s easy to get carried away by the fun and excitement of the season. However, according to health experts, being aware of the heat’s health risks is vital.
As high temperatures cause an increase in emergency room visits for heat-related issues in some states, health experts said there are simple steps to remain calm and spot potential signs of overheating, including headaches, nausea, or dizziness.
Dr. Dale Carter, a family medicine resident at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, said that as a general rule, people should drink at least 64 ounces of water daily, or about eight glasses, and dress appropriately for the weather.
“Long, loose clothing is helpful, sunscreen is definitely helpful to protect your skin,” Carter said. “Then really trying to stay out of the environment when it’s at its worst will be the most helpful things.”
For being in and around water, she recommended securing protective barriers around pools, actively monitoring children and using flotation devices. It’s also smart to take swimming lessons and be CPR certified to ensure safety for everyone.
Heatstroke requires immediate treatment. Symptoms and signs include an altered mental state or behavior, nausea and vomiting, and rapid heartbeat.
Donna O’Shea, chief medical officer of population health for UnitedHealthcare, said virtual care is also an option for discussing symptoms with a healthcare professional.
“How long should I wait before going to the emergency room? The same thing, even for sunburn or bike safety: ‘Should I go in?’ Do you think I need stitches?” O’Shea explained. “We don’t think about it in virtual care, but the technology is really good.”
O’Shea added that among the benefits of virtual care is the ability to connect with someone for help 24/7, and most insurers offer it at no extra cost, including some of her company’s plans.
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As summer gets underway, North Carolina dentists are stressing the importance of maintaining children’s dental health.
Dr. Miranda Kalaskey, a Raleigh dentist and member North Carolina Dental Society, said with more outdoor activities and a change in routine, dental care can often be neglected, leading to tooth decay and dental trauma. Her advice is for parents to keep up with preventative care and encourage healthier eating habits.
“Try to pick a healthy summer snack. That can be fruit. That can be vegetables. Just not something dry, not something processed,” Kalaskey described. “And the more processed you have, the drier it is, the more likely it is to stick to their teeth.”
He pointed out that food left behind can cause tooth decay. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children in the US, with more than half of eight-year-olds who had at least one cavity in their baby teeth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Warmer weather also means more outdoor play. Kalaskey highlighted the increase in dental trauma cases during the summer due to increased outdoor play and sports activities.
“A lot of times, kids go and play basketball, and sometimes high schools are really good about, ‘Hey, here’s a mouth guard,’ or, ‘You need to get a mouth guard for practice,'” Kalasky noted. “But during the summer, a lot of times kids are playing with other kids, which is great, but making sure they know that dental trauma is one thing.”
If a tooth is knocked out, contact your dentist immediately. If it’s after hours, suggest it ToothSOS application for guidance.
He added another important key to dental hygiene for children in the summer is a consistent schedule.
“Summer is often going to change that routine, but your brushing and flossing routine doesn’t need to change,” Kalaskey recommended. “You still want to brush twice a day, floss at least once a day. So we make sure to incorporate that, even though the kids might be up at 10 in the morning.”
Kalaskey stressed that routine is also important for dental visits. She advises children to see a dentist when they get their first tooth and then every six months. In addition to maintaining dental health, he emphasized, it also creates a good relationship with dental visits in the long run.
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A Virginia community health center is part of a program to address food insecurity.
National Association of Community Health Centers 2024 Innovation Incubator creates ways to expand access to healthy foods. The Tri-Area Community Health Center’s Laurel Fork location will have funding and expert guidance to help them design and test community-based solutions.
Merrill Warschoff Press, senior vice president of partnerships, development and innovation for the National Association of Community Health Centers, said the centers are uniquely suited to address local nutrition issues.
“Health centers are highly efficient and innovative with integrated models of care,” Press explained. “They reach far beyond the walls of the traditional exam room, not only to prevent disease and treat it, but to really address the social drivers that can cause ill health.”
Food insecurity has increased since the pandemic-era programs ended in 2023. Emergency allotments provided SNAP recipients with an additional $95 per month for 470,000 families throughout the territory. However, some people are above or below the SNAP eligibility threshold.
Other issues stem from food prices. The Consumer Price Index shows that food prices rose between 2022 and 2023, but in recent months, prices have been falling.
The Innovation Incubator’s primary goal is to discover best practices for providing care to millions of people and share them with health centers across the country. The press noted that the methods being developed can help different populations.
“There are many health centers that have large populations of patients who come from other countries and are used to certain foods and have different preferences,” Press noted. “Being able to work with them in their own language with foods they like and trust is really valuable in improving access to food that will make a difference in their lives.”
Food pantries have been key to reducing food insecurity wherever possible. Virginia food banks have seen a 5% to 10% increase in demand at the end of 2022, which is problematic as food banks nationally see donations and commodities from the Emergency Food Assistance Program decrease.
Disclosure: The National Association of Community Health Centers contributes to our reporting fund on Policy and Budget Priorities and Health Issues. If you want to help support public interest news, click here.
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