Fluoride facts versus words of fear

Re: Fluoride doesn’t belong in our water supply; The experts clearly had ‘settled science’ wrong and our children paid the price, Opinion, July 17 Licia Corbella’s recent column on fluoride is profoundly anti-scientific. She uses the techniques of the anti-vaccine movement, such as fearmongering and including many links that ultimately don’t support her point.

But worse than that, this column is distinctly classist. She seems to say that since fluoridated toothpaste is 69 cents, if poor people don’t buy it then it’s their fault because it’s cheap.

That has never been the issue. The issue is the cost of dentists. Less privileged people cannot afford to take their children to the dentist as often, so they don’t have the safety net that wealthier people do.

Matthew Block, Calgary