Residents of Edgartown will soon be voting on the issue of fluoridating the public water supply.

This makes absolutely no financial sense and I don’t understand this approach that circumnavigates the individual’s responsibility to their own dental care by burdening the whole community.

If the intention is to prevent dental caries and tooth decay, especially in children within this community,that $670,000 up front cost and additional annual costs could go a long way to provide the product directly to those who need it or want it, and directly for its intended beneficial use.

Start with community education for children and adults around how sugar affects dental health, and raise awareness as to what contains sugar. Educate children in school and parents at home on teaching proper dental hygiene procedures: brushing, flossing, and how to use a fluoride rinse. Provide fluoride rinse and regular dental checkups to children (and adults) of families in need. That would be money well spent, and 100 per cent of the cost would go directly to the benefit of the intended use: cavity prevention and dental health.

When 90 per cent or more of the product literally gets flushed away through showers, toilets, lawn care, laundry, etc., fluoridating the public water supply is financial insanity.

According to a conversation I had with the late Dr. Ganong (a dentist who practiced here), swishing fluoride between the teeth for 30 seconds, then expelled, works best for its intended purpose of preventing cavities (along with brushing, flossing, and dentist visits). Direct contact with the teet — not ingestion — is beneficial.

Dental hygiene is the responsibility of the individual. Children need to be taught and supervised.Why should the entire water supply be adjusted and the financial burden shouldered by the community if an adult is negligent in their own health care? In what other model do we mandate for all what only some need? There is no non-fluoridated water option to those paying for town water, or using it in rentals, B&Bs or drinking it in restaurants. There is no way to regulate or know how much fluoride each person is getting, or may need in addition to what they are getting.There is no alternative to water.

Residents and voters of Edgartown — before voting, please take a moment to consider what choice and freedom means to you. If you are for fluoridation of the public water, please take a moment and think of how you would feel if there was something you didn’t want added to the water that someone else thought was in your best interest, that was being mandated, and to which there was no alternative. If the vote is not unanimous, then nothing superfluous should be added to the public water supply.

Kim Hilliard
Vineyard Haven