Public Health Chiefs Call For New Water Fluoridation Programme
Public Health England has called for a new water fluoridation programme to improve standards of dental health across the country.
Currently, only 10 per cent of the population consumes fluoridated water and the advisory body recommends rolling out the scheme in a bid to combat tooth decay.
Calls from Public Health England come after a review confirmed that water fluoridation helped to reduce rates of decay and subsequently lower the number of hospital admissions for dental treatment. In areas where the water supplies were fluoridated, the number of hospital admissions for children aged between 1 and 4 years old was 45 per cent lower than in areas without fluoridated water. Levels of dental decay were 15 per cent lower in children aged 5 years old and 11 per cent lower for 12 year old children.
The impact of water fluoridation was particularly noticeable in deprived areas, where rates of tooth decay were reduced significantly.
Public Health England also reviewed potential hazards and dangers of a widespread fluoridation programme and found no issues. Anti-fluoride campaigners have called for fluoride to be banned from municipal water supplies due to concerns about increased risks of hip fractures, Down’s syndrome and some forms of cancer; however, this review found no evidence to support these claims.
Director of dental public health at Public Health England, Sue Gregory, said that the findings of the review show the positive impact water fluoridation can make on dental health. Councils across England are now being urged to consider fluoridation.
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