According to News staff writer Steve Schulwitz’s recent story, the price and lack of availability of fluoride could mean the city stops fluoridating the city’s water supply.

Fluoridation helps prevent tooth decay, but is not mandated by the state or federal government. The city has used fluoride in its water since 1958.

Alpena has enough fluoride to last until the fall, so the Alpena Municipal Council has until then to decide between three options, Schulwitz reported:

∫ Temporarily removing fluoride from its production process until costs stabilize and supply-chain issues are sorted out.

∫ Transitioning to a liquid version of the chemical.

∫ Stopping the additive altogether.

Changing the fluoridation method comes with costs as high as $100,000, City Engineer Steve Shultz told the Alpena Municipal Council.

Fluoridation is an important health care program. Tooth decay, according to the Mayo Clinic, can cause everything from pain to even serious infections.

The city needs to hear from residents whether that health care program is worth the added costs.

We urge residents to tell the Alpena Municipal Council what you think of the choices it faces and how you’d like it to respond.