Within the early Nineteen Fifties, well being officers in cities throughout america, together with these in Seattle, Washington, have been keen to copy the huge success of the primary longitudinal fluoridation research in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Seattle-King County Division of Public Well being first proposed
fluoridating Seattle’s water in 1951. Town council put the proposal to a referendum in 1952. However Seattle residents weren’t in favor of the concept, and fluoridation was defeated in a public vote, with 65% voting no and 35% voting sure.
Tooth decay in Seattle remained an enormous downside, and advocates within the metropolis – which included native dentists, PTAs, mothers going door to door, and 15,000 residents signing on to a petition in favor of fluoridation – requested the town to think about the general public well being measure once more in 1963. Voters nonetheless weren’t satisfied. The marketing campaign didn’t have the academic attain to make their case to voters nor did it have the assist of the town council, which remained impartial. Nonetheless, the vote was a lot nearer than in 1952, with 57% opposed and 43% in favor of group water fluoridation, main advocates to imagine that they’d efficiently reached extra folks. It appeared that higher efforts to tell voters together with, maybe, the truth that fluoridation had begun to show its advantages in different cities, had an affect on hearts and minds.
Fluoridation advocates have been undeterred. They knew fluoridated water would forestall cavities, and actually needed Seattle’s youngsters to benefit from the oral well being advantages of simply accessible fluoride. In 1968, dentists, mothers, and well being officers once more went to the town council, which – this time round – was satisfied to weigh in on the science and dental well being advantages of fluoridation. The Seattle metropolis council voted in favor of fluoridating Seattle’s water in 1968, and the measure was once more put to a public vote. Seattle residents voted in favor of the general public well being measure, this time with 57% in favor and 43% opposed. With that win for oral well being, Seattle began fluoridating on January 12, 1970 and has now loved the cavity prevention advantages of fluoridated water for 52 years.