A new study explores the trade-off between higher blood lead levels and lower tooth decay risk in children who drink tap water versus bottled water.
American children and teens who don’t drink tap water, which is usually fluoridated, are much more likely to have dental cavities, according to a new study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. However, the study confirms that those who drink it are more likely to have high levels of lead in their blood.
Public awareness of the dangers of lead-contaminated water has increased since 2014, when concerns were raised after Flint, Michigan’s drinking water source was replaced with the untreated Flint River. A federal state of emergency has been declared and residents of Flint have been instructed to use only bottled water for drinking, cooking and bathing.
A health compromise
High blood lead levels only affect a small minority of children but the health consequences are profound and permanent. On the other hand, tooth decay affects one in two young people, and its consequences, such as toothache, are immediate and costly to treat.
The study draws attention to a critical trade-off for parents: Children who drink water are more likely to have high blood lead levels, but children who avoid tap water are more likely to suffer from tooth decay sums up one of the researchers. Added to this is a political issue across the Atlantic. Indeed, for children who avoid tap water, social protection against tooth decay is denied.
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