Los Banos Rotary Club History
Dr. Frank Brewer Talks Fluoridation At Rotary Club

Dr. Frank A. Brewer, Merced County and City of Los Banos health officer, told members of the Los Banos Rotary Club Tuesday noon that "the greatest single contribution a community can make to its people is the institution of a water fluoridation program."

Though Los Banos has a higher natural fluorine content in its water than any other Merced County city, Dr. Brewer said this area too, is deficient, and if stepped up only by .8 part par million it would decrease caries, or tooth decay, by 65 per cent among the city's children.

Dr. Brewer pointed out that additives of fluorides in drinking water has now been approved by the American Medical Association, U.S. and State Health Departments and all like agencies. Records of tests made in communities throughout the country, he said, show definitely a drop of 65 per cent in caries among children. The same tests have shown there is no accumulative ill effects, in fact the record would indicate a longevity advantage which would be further evidenced in coming generations who have the benefit of better teeth—which is frequently the cause of many adult illnesses.

Illustrating the small amount of fluorine represented by the 1 part per million recommended dosage, Dr. Brewer said it is equivalent to one-twentieth of a drop in a gallon of water or about the amount that can be put on the point of a pin.

It would take more than 3,000 times such amount for the additive to become a lethal dose, Dr. Brewer said. Even if five times the recommended application were made consistently the effect would be nothing more than to produce a very slight mottling of the teeth and possibly some pitting of the tooth enamel.
Application, he said, is simply and accurately accomplished with mechanical devices.

Questioned as to costs, City Administrator Mike Dambrosio said that installation of fluoridation by the City of Los Banos would cost an initial $6,000, and about $1.50 per million gallons, or a total of $600 a year, which Dr. Brewer interpreted as the cost of a package of cigarettes per year for the city's 5,000 inhabitants.

Dr. George Pimentel added an opposition voice to the proposal, stating that in his opinion it is not the responsibility of government to enter into such programs that can benefit only a portion of the populace. He suggested that the program should be an educational one, with parents who wish their children to have the fluoridation benefits to provide some in pill or powder form, as is now done universally with vitamins and many other kindred body benefits.

Randall Fawcett pointed out that the U. S. Army and other branches of the Armed Forces provide free dental service for their men, and suggested that the benefits of mass fluoridation for youngsters would eventually more than pay for itself in better adult dental conditions of the servicemen.

Ladies Night

Rotary President Otto Zentner announced plans for a Rotary Ladies' Night to be held sometime during the Christmas-New Years holiday period. Louie Castellucci is chairman of a five-man committee named to handle the affair.
Randall Fawcett, chairman of the annual dinner given by the Rotary Club in honor of the high school football team, said the dinner would be held Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the Elementary School Cafeteria. As in the past years the Lions, 20-30 and Junior Chamber of Commerce will be invited to participate in the program as guests.

November 23, 1956

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