Windsor's newly elected council has made its first big decision of the new term.
After hearing from nearly 20 delegates on both sides of the issue, council opted to reintroduce fluoride to the city's water supply by a vote of 8-3 — mayor Drew Dilkens and councillors Fred Francis and Ed Sleiman were in opposition.
Fluoride was removed in 2013 and a report from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit shows overall oral health in the region has been on a decline since.
Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed says the health unit carried out a study of 1,400 local residents with four of five in favour of fluoridation.
He calls it a win for the community at large.
"We have been advocating for the oral health of our community. It's been deteriorating pretty badly and we needed to take action. We are happy to see that the council has made the right decision to help the individuals who are living in this community having all these oral health issues. Now they have something to lean on."
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit action Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed addresses Windsor Council on December 17, 2018 (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
Ahmed says, while fluoride isn't the only factor for good oral health, it plays a major part.
"It's not the only solution, but it is one of the solutions that we can do as a community and we can show our responsibility to the community by adding community water fluoridation and it's a great success. We, as a community, have an obligation to take action, which we did, and I'm happy about that."
He says reintroducing fluoride is good for everyone, but will benefit children the most.
"There is definitely a huge decline and we looked at the mouths of every child in Windsor and Essex County. So it's not a sample, it's a total population and it should be a concern to all of us as a community. These are the children who will eventually grow up and will have all these problems. So we have an obligation to them to support their optimal growth."
Windsor Council meets on December 17, 2018 (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
Fluoridation in Windsor is not yet a done deal as Tecumseh and LaSalle share the water supply.
Two of three municipalities need to agree to the change before it can be carried out — neither Tecumseh or LaSalle have made a decision.
Bringing fluoride back carries a price tag of $850,000.