UK - BDFH: Fluoridation is excellent news
BDFH: Fluoridation is excellent news
Wednesday, 06 Feb 2008 12:29
The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has welcomed plans to add fluoride to water as "excellent news".
The foundation said it is "delighted" with the announcement made by health secretary Alan Johnson that water should be fluoridated to prevent tooth decay in areas with poor dental health.
BDHF chief executive Dr Nigel Carter said he has seen first-hand the "positive impact water fluoridation can have on dental health".
He used to practice on the border of Birmingham (where fluoride is added to water) and Sandwell (which previously did not have fluoride added to its water). "It still amazes me that it was possible to tell from which side of the dividing main road a child came from, simply by the state of their teeth. However, the difference was massive," Dr Carter said.
"At that time Sandwell was towards the bottom of the oral health leagues. However, water fluoridation was introduced in Sandwell in 1987 and over the next few years they rapidly moved up the table and into the top 10."
He added that there is "robust scientific research" that fluoride "significantly improves oral health" and claimed there is "no evidence" to show it can have a negative impact on overall health.
"Let us not forget that Birmingham has been fluoridated since 1964 and has reported no effect other than significantly improved dental decay rates," Dr Carter said.
"With this in mind we are delighted that the government is taking steps to encourage debate on the subject of water fluoridation."
Wednesday, 06 Feb 2008 12:29
The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has welcomed plans to add fluoride to water as "excellent news".
The foundation said it is "delighted" with the announcement made by health secretary Alan Johnson that water should be fluoridated to prevent tooth decay in areas with poor dental health.
BDHF chief executive Dr Nigel Carter said he has seen first-hand the "positive impact water fluoridation can have on dental health".
He used to practice on the border of Birmingham (where fluoride is added to water) and Sandwell (which previously did not have fluoride added to its water). "It still amazes me that it was possible to tell from which side of the dividing main road a child came from, simply by the state of their teeth. However, the difference was massive," Dr Carter said.
"At that time Sandwell was towards the bottom of the oral health leagues. However, water fluoridation was introduced in Sandwell in 1987 and over the next few years they rapidly moved up the table and into the top 10."
He added that there is "robust scientific research" that fluoride "significantly improves oral health" and claimed there is "no evidence" to show it can have a negative impact on overall health.
"Let us not forget that Birmingham has been fluoridated since 1964 and has reported no effect other than significantly improved dental decay rates," Dr Carter said.
"With this in mind we are delighted that the government is taking steps to encourage debate on the subject of water fluoridation."
posted by Bill at
9:57 AM
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