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Registered nurse urges board to support community water fluoridation ahead of city vote
Summary
Jackie Sanchez, a registered nurse representing Safe Water Strong Files, told the board that fluoridation is an effective, equitable preventive measure for children's dental health and cited local gaps in pediatric dental access and education impacts.
Jackie Sanchez, a registered nurse representing Safe Water Strong Files, urged the board to communicate the importance of continuing community water fluoridation ahead of an upcoming city vote. "Decades of evidence both nationally and locally have demonstrated that it is one of the most effective, equitable tools we have to prevent dental decay, particularly for children," Sanchez said.
Sanchez provided local data to explain the stakes: she stated there are zero pediatric specialized dentists based full time in the county and that in 2024 "1 in 5 Clatsop County 8th graders have not seen a dentist within the previous year." She also cited a 2.3-times difference in academic performance for children with poor oral health, quoting Oregon Department of Education figures. Sanchez asked the board to support communicating the health benefits of fluoridation to Warrenton families and said she was available to answer questions after the meeting.
