UK - Hampshire has its say on water fluoridation

Hampshire has its say on water fluoridation
By Lucy Clark
HAMPSHIRE is a ticking time bomb when it comes to tooth decay, it has been claimed.
One third of adults in the county do not even bother to brush their teeth twice a day.
On top of this, a quarter of Hampshire's adults stated they do not think it is necessary to brush twice a day and 20 per cent admitted they simply cannot be bothered.
As the debate about whether extra fluoride should be added to our tap water here in Hampshire hots up, these worrying statistics suggest simple oral hygiene needs to be addressed.
The figures have emerged from research carried out by independent dental healthcare company Denplan.
The research also found that across the country 36 per cent of men clean their teeth just once a day while 70 per cent of women brush at least twice a day.
Almost three-quarters of adults - 72 per cent - spend less than two minutes brushing their teeth.
Two minutes is the minimum recommended time.
Steve Gates, Denplan's managing director, said: "We believe that much of this unawareness of oral hygiene is symptomatic of the fact that people increasingly have less access to dentists.
"Dentists provide vital aftercare advice and help to educate patients on how to avoid serious problems."
On February 5, Health Secretary Alan Johnson called for strategic health authorities up and down the country to use their powers to compel water companies to fluoridate water supplies to improve the nation's dental health.
Southampton Primary Care Trust has supported this idea and is awaiting the results of a feasibility study being carried out by the South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA).
If the SHA decides water fluoridation is practical and affordable, the move will go out to public consultation, which is expected to take place this summer.
Fluoride levels could be topped up in Hampshire's water by the end of 2008.
Mr Johnson said: "Fluoridation is an effective and relatively easy way to help address health inequalities, giving children from poorer backgrounds a dental health boost that can last a lifetime."
Dental experts including the British Dental Association and the British Dental Health Foundation back his support for fluoridation.
But critics have warned there is evidence fluoride can lead to serious health problems.
As well as dental fluorosis, when teeth appear stained, they claim it can cause bone problems and mental illness.