Health Department backs fluoride in water treatment as PSC pushes to end practice ...Middle East

The state Department of Health stands by fluoridation as a step in treating public drinking water supplies, officials with the agency told Mississippi Today on Tuesday.

Last week, the state Public Service Commission unanimously passed a resolution advocating for the “removal of sodium fluoride additives in drinking water.” Water systems began using fluoride as a treatment measure to prevent tooth decay in 1945.

Drinking fluoridated water reduces cavities by 25%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC has called the practice one of the greatest public health interventions of the 20th Century.

“MSDH encourages the use of fluoride for it’s health benefits, primarily for oral health,” Greg Flynn, a spokesperson for the agency, said.

But a growing movement — championed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — has seen places around the country remove fluoride from the treatment process. Last year, Utah became the first state to ban the practice.

“Mississippians deserve to know what is being added to their drinking water and why,” said Central District Public Service Commissioner De’Keither Stamps, who introduced last week’s resolution. “This resolution is rooted in transparency, safety and affordability. We want to help water systems reduce avoidable chemical costs while ensuring families have confidence in the quality of the water coming into their homes.”

Skeptics point to recent research suggesting a link between fluoride and lower IQ levels in children. That study, though, found no connection when looking at concentrations below 1.5 milligrams per liter, which is more than twice the recommended level for water systems in the U.S.

In a handbook on water fluoridation, the Health Department’s Bureau of Water Supply states its position more firmly.

“While it is understood, based on peer-reviewed scientific research, and years of experience that (water fluoridation) is safe and effective, some public water systems within Mississippi choose to discontinue fluoridation, contrary to the guidance of public health professionals,” the handbook says. “In many cases, decisions are made by (water system) officials without receiving appropriate factual information or notifying customers of the public water supply about the loss of this public health benefit.”

Opponents also point to toothpaste with growing amounts of fluoride as a reason to stop using the additive in drinking water. But toothpaste isn’t a replacement for water fluoridation, the bureau adds in the handbook.

Neither the state nor federal government require water systems to use fluoride in their treatment.

In 2001, the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners came out in support of statewide fluoridation in drinking water systems. Its counsel, Westley Mutziger, told Mississippi Today the board hasn’t reviewed its stance on the matter.

Flynn, with MSDH, said two systems in Mississippi have completed the process of discontinuing fluoride treatment: Sunrise Utility Association, which serves 5,998 people in Forrest County, and the town of Louise, which serves 870 people in Humphreys County. As of last December, another 26 systems serving a combined 275,000 people were in the process of abandoning fluoride in their water treatment, according to MSDH:

While the state doesn’t require fluoride in water treatment, it does require a water system to take certain steps before discontinuing the practice: 1) meeting in person with MSDH’s Bureau of Public Water supply, 2) giving a 30-day public notice, 3) the governing body holding a vote, 4) another public notice of the final decision, and 5) continuing to inform customers that the system has stopped using fluoride in its water treatment.

Hence then, the article about health department backs fluoride in water treatment as psc pushes to end practice was published today ( Wednesday 21/01/2026 - 08:27 PM ) and is available on Mississippi Today ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Health Department backs fluoride in water treatment as PSC pushes to end practice )

Also on site :

• Amazon Is Selling a 'Beautiful' $19 Cherry Blossom Tree Lamp That 'Looks Lovely at Night'
• Amazon Has an 'Incredibly Soft' Ugg Comforter for Nearly 50% Off That Feels Like 'Sleeping on a Cloud'
• 'Percy Jackson' Season 2 Ending Explained: What That Shocking Twist Means for Season 3