Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- brace / breɪs / (v.) – to prepare oneself physically or mentally for something difficult that is about to happen
Example:The town is bracing for the arrival of the storm.
- wear and tear / wɛər ænd tɛər / (n.) – the damage that happens to an object as a result of normal use over time
Example:Her favorite shoes show significant wear and tear because she uses them daily.
- preventative / prɪˈven t̬ə t̬ɪv / (adj.) – relating to actions taken or measures designed to stop something negative from happening, such as a disease, crime, etc.
Example:Regular exercise is one of the many preventative measures against many health problems.
- waitlist / ˈweɪtˌlɪst / (n.) – a list of people waiting to receive something, such as a service, because it is not available immediately
Example:The class is full, so she put her name on the waitlist and hopes to join if someone drops out.
- sedation / sɪˈdeɪ ʃən / (n.) – the use of medicine to make someone calm or go to sleep, especially before medical or dental treatment
Example:Dentists use sedation for some dental procedures to help nervous patients relax.
Article
Read the text below.
With Utah’s first-in-the-nation ban on fluoride in public drinking water having taken effect May 7, dentists who treat children and low-income patients said they’re bracing for an influx of tooth decay among the state’s most vulnerable.
Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed the law against the recommendation of many dentists and national health organizations who warned removing fluoride would harm tooth development, especially in young patients without regular access to dental care. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. applauded Utah for being the first state to enact a ban and said he plans to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending fluoridation nationwide.
As of May 7, communities across the state were no longer able to decide whether to add a low dose of the cavity-preventing mineral to their water supply. Before the ban became law, a majority of Utah water systems did not add fluoride. The state in 2022 ranked 44th in the nation for the percentage of residents who received fluoridated water, with about two in five receiving it, according to CDC data.
The law impacts about 1.6 million Utah residents who live in Davis and Salt Lake counties, and Brigham City, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. In communities like Salt Lake City—the largest city removing fluoride from its water supply—dentists over the past weeks said many patients were unaware of the fast-approaching ban, and most did not realize the city had been adding fluoride to their drinking water for nearly two decades.
Fluoride fortifies teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the CDC. It’s especially important for children whose teeth are still developing. For some low-income families, public drinking water containing fluoride may be their only source of preventative dental care.
At Salt Lake Donated Dental Services, providers expect their monthslong waitlist for children’s procedures requiring sedation to grow and their need for volunteer dentists to skyrocket. The effects of the ban on children’s teeth will likely be visible within the next year, said Sasha Harvey, the clinic’s executive director.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Utah’s fluoride ban was supported by the U.S. Health Secretary, but opposed by many dentists and scientists. How do you feel when government leaders make big decisions but do not listen to scientists or experts? Why? How does this affect the way you view government leaders? Discuss.
- In your opinion, who should have more influence on public health decisions—government leaders or health experts? Why? Do you think both groups can work together well? What happens when they don’t? Discuss.
Discussion B
- As a child, how would you describe your dental health? What healthy habits did you learn and practice from childhood to take care of your dental health? Discuss.
- In your opinion, is it more helpful to learn these habits at home, through school programs, or during visits to dental clinics? What do you think are the pros and cons of each of these settings—home, school, and dental clinics—for teaching children about dental care? Discuss.