Building support for fluoridation from First Five San Diego

At its regular meeting on November 5, 2007, the First 5 Commission of San Diego voted 5-0 in favor of a resolution to contribute funding from First 5 funds for community water fluoridation to local water districts starting with the City of San Diego. Before reaching their decision, the commission took testimony from a long line of experts, including, among others: Lester Machado, MD, DDS, President-elect of the San Diego County Dental Society; Pradeep Gidwani, MD, former president of the local chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; former Senators Dede Alpert and Lucy Killea; Greg Zinser, Chair, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Health Committee; and Dave Nelson, DDS, MS, California Department of Health Services, Office of Oral Health, who all testified that bringing San Diego's drinking water up to an optimally fluoridated level is the safest, most effective and most cost-efficient way to promote strong oral health care in San Diego's children. According to County Supervisor and First 5 Commission past-Chairman Ron Roberts, “Community water fluoridation is long overdue in San Diego. The First 5 Commission is pleased and honored to bring about this common sense solution to our children's oral health needs.”