To the editor:

In the latest anti-fluoride screed, Richard Miller (March 30) once again beats the dead horse of false information, fear mongering, and fallacious reasoning to the issue of community water fluoridation. The safety and efficacy of fluoride, both topical and systemic, has been well demonstrated for over 70 years.

Despite Mr. Miller’s misinformation, no, fluoride is not a “medication,” and no, the fluoride used to prevent cavities, save billions of health care dollars as well as untold dental suffering is not “toxic industrial waste.” It doesn’t lower IQ, it doesn’t calcify your pineal gland, it doesn’t cause Alzheimer’s disease or any of those other trumped-up pseudo-scientific accusations. It is a naturally occurring mineral that is normally present in most water supplies worldwide. Fluoride is added to (and in some cases removed from) water supplies to maximize benefits.

Community water fluoridation was hailed by the Centers for Disease Control as one of the top ten great public health achievements of the 20th Century, along with the discovery of antibiotics, automobile safety and healthier mothers and babies. It offers protection from the most common disease in the world, and particularly helps those who may not be able to afford dental care or have ready access to it. Why anyone would want to oppose a safe, effective and inexpensive health care measure that prevents pain and suffering is beyond me.