My “ilk”?.  I won’t even attempt to guess as to what an “ilk” may be.

1.  I’ve neither claimed ingestion of fluoride to be a “great benefactor” of anything, to make up for the “shortcomings” of anyone, nor as “the necessary response to a children’s dental health emergency”.  The only ones of whom I’m aware seem to believe these things to be the purpose of fluoridation are uninformed antifluoridationists.  Water fluoridation  is simply the most cost-effective means to prevent a significant amount of dental decay in entire populations.

2.  Ingestion of fluoride does not, by itself, “preserve the dental health” of anyone, any more than does ingestion of vitamins C and  D alone preserve the overall health of anyone.  Fluoridation is simply one very effective means to prevent a significant amount of dental decay in entire populations.  

3. There is nothing forced upon anyone in regard to water fluoridation. 

Steven D. Slott, DDS
Communications Officer
American Fluoridation Society