BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Buffalo Common Council will be holding a meeting on Wednesday afternoon and one item on the agenda is how local dentists are concerned about how the prolonged lack of fluoride in Buffalo's water could have long-term effects on kids.
"I would like the council members to have this front and center for the agenda for 2024 because it had such an impact on child health. It has an impact on everybody's health but especially children," Pat Polowy, a retired nurse practitioner, said.
She wrote a letter to Council Member Rasheed Wyatt stating her concerns about how no fluoride in the water can impact children.
"Try to expedite getting the fluoride going back into the water and try to communicate with the family members who children are being affected and also with the health care community-- the dental providers and the primary care providers who can compensate to the extent for the absence of fluoride in the Buffalo city water," Polowy said.
She and representatives from the 8th District Dental Society will be sharing their concerns during Wednesday's common council meeting, hoping this last effort could get the process rolling.
"There's no assurance that the families in Buffalo are all aware of the issue and if they were aware, they could have their children treated in a dental office or in a primary care office differently to compensate for the absence of fluoride in the water," Polowy said.
