Officials in Columbia, MO, have voted to continue fluoridating the city's water supply.
The unanimous city council vote came November 4 following nearly a year of discussion that began with a request from a private citizen to stop fluoridating the city's water supply, according to an ADA press release.
Columbia has been fluoridating since 1973, when its water supply changed from deep naturally fluoridated wells to shallow wells that contained only 0.3 parts per million (ppm) fluoride, according to Lori Henderson, DDS, a pediatric dentist in Columbia who worked in the grass-roots effort to continue fluoridation.
Local dentists recommended maintaining the benefits of optimal fluoride levels.
Columbia health officials reviewed more than 100 articles and heard five hours of testimony during the hearings.
