"Physician, heal thyself"
Biblical Quotation

"First do no harm"
attributed to Hippocrates

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time."         Abraham Lincoln, (attributed) 16th president of US (1809 - 1865)

When we talk about health, including dental health, one cannot escape from the diverse range of people, their genetic makeup and their propensity to choose however they wish to lead their lives.

One must first make a distinction between "dental health" and "dental public health", though both are nowadays intertwined at the professional level. According to Wikipedia "Dental public health" can be defined as

"... the assessment of dental health needs and improving the dental health of populations rather than individuals".

This correctly implies that dental health is the responsibility of the individual in seeking professional in the fields related to dentistry. Interestingly Wikipedia makes the following comment in relation to dental public health and water fluoridation:

"Even with fluoridation and oral hygiene, tooth decay is still the most common food related disease affecting all families, having the economic impact of heart disease, obesity and diabetes."

Therefore one could correctly imply that the single largest contributing factor to decay in oral health, is not the lack of fluoride in water, but is neglect in making the right choices for ourselves in what we choose to consume or breathe. Whether that neglect also encompasses the form of foregoing regular dental health care, both at home and at the dentist in the form of preventative care and/or maintaining a lifestyle that is unhealthy, both will eventually culminate in dental health that is compromised.

FACT: The addition of fluoride (sodium fluoride) to a town's water supply will not cause any significant decrease in the incidence of tooth decay. It is a band aid measure masking the underlying need for regular dental support and education. This is especially true if your lifestyle currently includes the things you know you shouldn't be eating or consuming... as often!

Because such diversity exists within populations, there is an onus on each individual at times to seek professional advice (sometimes second and third opinions!) and make perhaps certain and recommended changes ourselves. Ultimately in the end we become our own physician because no one else is responsible for ourselves within reason.

Dental health is linked to the aging process also. As we get older our health starts to wane and we find that what was once acceptable activities or consumptions in our youth becomes harder to maintain. Thus changes may have to be made when the individual becomes conscious of the need to change or dis-ease may ensue.

In the documentary SICKO Michael Moore presented a number of irrefutable arguments to the viewer. At one point in the film, Richard Nixon (WaterGate President) and John Ehrlichman are heard discussing the concept of a health maintenance organization in Oval Office Recordings. The Miller Center of Public Affairs has this audio recording (conversation number 450-23. "Richard Nixon - Oval Office Recordings".

Choice Mount Gambier was unable to locate recording 450-23 and note that 450 Part A is not available. SICKO presented the idea what perhaps many of us already know that the goal of American Health organizations are at heart, and thus other health organizations abroad which model the larger players, are not really concerned with the health of their citizens, even though the system is set up that way with all its flaws, joys and false empathy, but in the end like any other industry, each HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) primary concerns are shareholders and not its clients.

This is not to discount the number of genuine people working for these organizations as like the rest of us we need to bring home the bread. But nevertheless there is a propensity over time for a society to evolve away from once good business practices.

Another words it is not good business sense to cure people or provide them access to the proper care they need. Too often we as clients take things for granted when it comes to reading the fine print. Sometimes information, even one's own health records are withheld from the patient when it is everyone's fundamental right access to their own records. The health industry is no exception.

The fluoride industry is no different. There are many good things in this world but like life, there are many bad things also. As one person once said life is sweet and sour. More often than not the less than ideal actions arise from the minds of men. Women too, but they are less prone to bad ideals and greed as they are the nurturers of us all.

FACT: Since the 1940's one of the byproducts of aluminium smelting and super phosphate fertilizer product, sodium fluoride, has been problematic to dispose.

To give you an idea of the level of deception within the industry in the matter of fluoridation one must define its purpose. Fluoridation is a practice designed in the West to use human beings essentially - and it will come as a shock to some - as waste disposals bins.

Perhaps you prefer it being said that "Fluoridation is a practice designed in the West whereby the addition of an industrial waste by product is remarketed as a treatment for dental health" or rephrased in more publically acceptable terms - "Fluoridation is a practice designed in the West whereby the addition of sodium fluoride is used as a treatment for dental health". In actual fact, neither of these statements are completely true as the majority of populations prefer to get their water from other and better tasting sources. Most of the fluoride that is added to water supplies ends up bypassing human consumption exiting via underground water, baths and toilets even ending up in concrete. Consistently across western populations with access to potable water supplies, human water consumption accounts for approximately 0.5% of daily water use.  EPA regulations exists on one end (to control industry fluoride output) and not at the other exit points (same repackaged fluorides released via water fluoridation). Perfect!

Either way one cannot escape from the reality of where sodium fluoride is sourced from. Interestingly Choice Mount Gambier paid a visit to Rory McEwen who claimed straight off the bat that he had more than 30 years experience in water fluoridation. Not intimidated by such claims, Choice calmly posed a number of questions to Rory McEwen. Mr McEwen was unable to answer a number of logical questions and over the course of that hour became increasingly agitated with black beady eyes that could burn a hole through one's chest. The change in countenance was remarkable and we wished we had caught it on film.

In the course of that questioning as later reported to the Border Watch, Alex Young had referred to said MP comments made before the SA House of Assembly on 7 March 2007 in regards to information read from a flyer as distributed to the Mount Gambier Community by Network Against Fluoride*:

"Some members lean forward in mirth, but could anyone credibly believe that a government, on behalf of a community, would inject into their water supply untreated toxic waste from inside fertilizer factory smoke stacks?"

Rory McEwen, House of Assembly, SA Parliament, 7 March 2007

Yes what credible government would? Despite making this comment entered into hansard record Rory McEwen was unable to answer the simple question later asked of him by Choice "where does sodium fluoride come from?". So even with alleged 30 years of water fluoridation experience Rory McEwen with the intention of deriding so called fluoride distracters in State Parliament at that time, no one asked nor did he provide Choice Mount Gambier with a definitive source for fluoride products used in water fluoridation.

Did you miss that vital point? So what is the origin of sodium fluoride or as sometimes used - sodium hexafluorosilic acid? In the production of aluminium from bauxite/fluorspar wherein such ores are treated with large voltages of electricity and other refining processes, sodium fluoride is a by product of such industry. Also by international law, fluorides have to be removed from super phosphate fertilizer so as to not subdue the process of fertilizing used for agricultural products later consumed. But on the other hand these same products are allowed to be re-entered into spheres of community consumption through the the process of water fluoridation.

With Rory McEwen's statement in mind, consider the following from 1946:

"Some of the waste products of industrial processes -fluorine among them- are not only recoverable but valuable. It seems that a major cause of delay in handling problems of this kind may be the lack of machinery for coordination between industry, the public health services, a number of government departments, and those research-workers who by their individual or collective initiative disclose evils we must all desire to abolish"

Source "Fluorosis - endemic and man-made", The Lancet II (Dec. 7, 1946) 835

In the context of history this statement was published approximately 6 to 10 years before the machination of water fluoridation really started to gain momentum in the West. With numerous litigations in effect by surrounding farmers and agriculturalists, something was needed to be done to protect industry investments whilst at the same time change public opinion against the perils of fluoride in general. This was largely helped by the product Crest toothpaste released in 1955 and fluoride become a healthy toxin.

Choice Mount Gambier has no problems with toothpaste containing fluoride. The labels on such products typically contain words of warning - DO NOT SWALLOW. The topical application of fluoride for dental health is not in question, but knowing the effects of fluoride in transposing OH groups to create fluoroapatite substrates within the skeletal system and the fact that flourines/fluorides displace important iodines for optimal thyroid function in the body, Choice Mount Gambier also agrees that fluorides should NOT be swallowed.

There is no more absolute truth than "life begats life". Anything less than what we can consume as most life giving in the arena of organically grown fresh fruit and vegetables, tempered with perhaps some protein, complex carbohydrates and the basics of water, air and sunlight is not required by the human body. Indeed consumption is choice. If fortunate, we choose what we eat and drink. The choice partaking of alcohol and recreational drugs dilute the life force however and are considered of no benefit to maintenance of the human body.

Choice Mount Gambier therefore takes the position that the addition of a Schedule S6 poison to our Community water supply should be predicated by choice. Something our elected representatives are not doing.

Due to the lack of public participation of the relevant authorities and the lack of transparency in the matter, we therefore have to say NO to water fluoridation and YES to better regional dental support and education.

Mayor Steve Perryman once told me the same thing but remains neutral in the whole matter. Why? Perhaps he feels his hands are tied and the forces from higher government are too strong for local council?

I could never fathom why so many councilors do have an opinion on fluoride yet are unwilling to manifest their thoughts into action. And I am talking about the majority of Mount Gambier City Council who have stated they didn't want our water to be fluoridated with the exception of Jim Maher and Penny Richardson who make all the pro-noise for fluoride.

EPILOGUE: Is it entirely correct to believe SA Health stance that water fluoridation is a cost effect method of reducing tooth decay to the persons in our community who can not afford dental health care?

* Network Against Fluoride members were Melanie Freeman, Alison Smith, Belinda Ellis & Alex Young