Australia - Fluoride controversy continues
Fluoride controversy continues
Wauchope Gazette
February 16, 2012
LOCAL dentists have applauded efforts by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and NSW Health to fluoridate the water supply from February 2012.
Port Macquarie dentist and spokesperson for the Australian Dental Association (NSW Branch), Dr Mark Brisley, said this important public health measure would play an important role in improving dental and general health in the region.
"Drinking fluoridated water several times a day is the ideal way to give your teeth a quick fluoride treatment" said Dr Brisley.
"While the benefits of fluoride can be provided in many forms the safest and most cost effective method, with the greatest reduction in tooth decay, is seen when teeth are exposed to frequent, low concentrations of fluoride as in water fluoridation."
Although other fluoride-containing products are available, water fluoridation remains the most equitable and cost-effective method of delivering fluoride to all members of most communities, regardless of age, educational attainment or income level.
According to Dr Brisley, water fluoridation provides the greatest absolute benefit to those less advantaged in the community who are at greatest risk of tooth decay.
"Socio-economic disparities in oral disease levels are less pronounced among those with exposure to fluoridated water compared with those with no such exposure," he said.
Fluoride was first introduced to public water supplies in NSW at Yass more than 50 years ago and in water supplied to metropolitan Sydney more than 40 years ago.
About 95 per cent of the population in NSW now has access to fluoridated public water supplies.
"Fluoride's safety has been monitored for the past 50 years through over 30,000 studies, and no evidence has ever been found that water fluoridation causes any health side effects."Organisations who continue to endorse this important public health measure include the World Health Organisation; US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention; International Association for Dental Research; United States Surgeon General; United States Public Health Service; British Dental Association; British Medical Association.
"In Australia,water fluoridation is endorsed by leading health and medical organisations including the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians, the Public Health Association of Australia and the Australian Academy of Science."
Overall support for water fluoridation in NSW is high, exceeding 80 per cent of the surveyed residents.
Dr Brisley encourages anyone looking for further information on water fluoridation to visit the ADA web site at www.fluoridenow.com.au
But Retired dentist Caree Alexander said some dentists were caught in a time warp.
"Dentists who are still practising what was taught in the 1950s are failing their profession.
"What happened to cutting edge professionalism," she said.
"The ADA quite openly admits to anyone who bothers to ask that they have never done research into fluoride's health effects.
"They are so focussed on teeth that they don't even recognise there are bodies attached. They have no right to tell us that fluoride is safe."
Dr Alexander said the ADA did not represent all dentists, and many dentists now questioned the safety and effectiveness of consuming fluoride.
"All the big names like to endorse fluoridation because it makes it sound like they have everything under control.
"At times like these ? reading Dr Brisley's glowing endorsement of fluoridation ? I am reminded of the adage that 'It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it'."
Dr Alexander suggested people should check both sides of the argument and use their own intelligence.
"Have a look at the pro-fluoridation www.fluoridenow.com.au and have a look at the anti-fluoridation www.fluoridealert.org then make up your own mind," she said.
"Better yet, ask why certain people might be so keen to trample your democratic rights as to forcibly medicate you, your children and the entire community water supply."
Hasn't he heard of fluorosis?
Wauchope Gazette
February 16, 2012
LOCAL dentists have applauded efforts by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and NSW Health to fluoridate the water supply from February 2012.
Port Macquarie dentist and spokesperson for the Australian Dental Association (NSW Branch), Dr Mark Brisley, said this important public health measure would play an important role in improving dental and general health in the region.
"Drinking fluoridated water several times a day is the ideal way to give your teeth a quick fluoride treatment" said Dr Brisley.
"While the benefits of fluoride can be provided in many forms the safest and most cost effective method, with the greatest reduction in tooth decay, is seen when teeth are exposed to frequent, low concentrations of fluoride as in water fluoridation."
Although other fluoride-containing products are available, water fluoridation remains the most equitable and cost-effective method of delivering fluoride to all members of most communities, regardless of age, educational attainment or income level.
According to Dr Brisley, water fluoridation provides the greatest absolute benefit to those less advantaged in the community who are at greatest risk of tooth decay.
"Socio-economic disparities in oral disease levels are less pronounced among those with exposure to fluoridated water compared with those with no such exposure," he said.
Fluoride was first introduced to public water supplies in NSW at Yass more than 50 years ago and in water supplied to metropolitan Sydney more than 40 years ago.
About 95 per cent of the population in NSW now has access to fluoridated public water supplies.
"Fluoride's safety has been monitored for the past 50 years through over 30,000 studies, and no evidence has ever been found that water fluoridation causes any health side effects."Organisations who continue to endorse this important public health measure include the World Health Organisation; US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention; International Association for Dental Research; United States Surgeon General; United States Public Health Service; British Dental Association; British Medical Association.
"In Australia,water fluoridation is endorsed by leading health and medical organisations including the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians, the Public Health Association of Australia and the Australian Academy of Science."
Overall support for water fluoridation in NSW is high, exceeding 80 per cent of the surveyed residents.
Dr Brisley encourages anyone looking for further information on water fluoridation to visit the ADA web site at www.fluoridenow.com.au
But Retired dentist Caree Alexander said some dentists were caught in a time warp.
"Dentists who are still practising what was taught in the 1950s are failing their profession.
"What happened to cutting edge professionalism," she said.
"The ADA quite openly admits to anyone who bothers to ask that they have never done research into fluoride's health effects.
"They are so focussed on teeth that they don't even recognise there are bodies attached. They have no right to tell us that fluoride is safe."
Dr Alexander said the ADA did not represent all dentists, and many dentists now questioned the safety and effectiveness of consuming fluoride.
"All the big names like to endorse fluoridation because it makes it sound like they have everything under control.
"At times like these ? reading Dr Brisley's glowing endorsement of fluoridation ? I am reminded of the adage that 'It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it'."
Dr Alexander suggested people should check both sides of the argument and use their own intelligence.
"Have a look at the pro-fluoridation www.fluoridenow.com.au and have a look at the anti-fluoridation www.fluoridealert.org then make up your own mind," she said.
"Better yet, ask why certain people might be so keen to trample your democratic rights as to forcibly medicate you, your children and the entire community water supply."
Hasn't he heard of fluorosis?
posted by Bill at
9:46 AM
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