The fluoride factor
FOR almost 50 years the drinking water piped to homes in Birmingham has contained added fluoride.
On tap: Start good oral care in childhood
The treatment has been shown to improve the teeth of the city's families, with one study revealing that oral health is three times better than in areas where no fluoride is added.
However campaigners say that almost nine out of 10 of us aren't getting enough fluoride in our drinking water to adequately protect our teeth.
Fluoride is a mineral which strengthens enamel, the hard protective surface on teeth, and helps fights decay.
It is found naturally in all drinking water but often in tiny amounts. Campaigners say a widespread programme to add fluoride in key areas where those levels are too low, such as Manchester and Leeds, would transform the nation's oral health.
About 5.5 million people, mainly across the West Midlands and in parts of Newcastle, are drinking water that has had the fluoride concentration raised to around one part per million parts of water. Another 500,000 people, including families in Hartlepool and parts of Essex, receive naturally fluoridated water at sufficient levels.
A new survey for the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) shows overwhelming support for fluoridation with more than four out of five people who took part in favour.
According to the BDHF, the addition of fluoride to drinking water is proven to reduce tooth decay by up to 30 per cent and chief executive Dr Nigel Carter says: "Adding fluoride is the most important single measure that we can take to dramatically improve the nation's dental health."
Statistically, by the age of five nearly two-thirds of children in some parts of the UK have at least one rotten tooth. Campaigners claim that children in deprived areas, where tooth-brushing is notoriously bad, would benefit most and that the cost to the NHS of a nationwide programme would easily be offset by savings on dental treatment.
Latest research from Australia, where there is already an extensive programme, shows it is not just children who can benefit. It suggests that fluoride can help to prevent tooth decay in adults of all ages, regardless of whether they began drinking it during childhood.
However campaigners say that almost nine out of 10 of us aren't getting enough fluoride in our drinking water to adequately protect our teeth.
Fluoride is a mineral which strengthens enamel, the hard protective surface on teeth, and helps fights decay.
It is found naturally in all drinking water but often in tiny amounts. Campaigners say a widespread programme to add fluoride in key areas where those levels are too low, such as Manchester and Leeds, would transform the nation's oral health.
About 5.5 million people, mainly across the West Midlands and in parts of Newcastle, are drinking water that has had the fluoride concentration raised to around one part per million parts of water. Another 500,000 people, including families in Hartlepool and parts of Essex, receive naturally fluoridated water at sufficient levels.
A new survey for the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) shows overwhelming support for fluoridation with more than four out of five people who took part in favour.
According to the BDHF, the addition of fluoride to drinking water is proven to reduce tooth decay by up to 30 per cent and chief executive Dr Nigel Carter says: "Adding fluoride is the most important single measure that we can take to dramatically improve the nation's dental health."
Statistically, by the age of five nearly two-thirds of children in some parts of the UK have at least one rotten tooth. Campaigners claim that children in deprived areas, where tooth-brushing is notoriously bad, would benefit most and that the cost to the NHS of a nationwide programme would easily be offset by savings on dental treatment.
Latest research from Australia, where there is already an extensive programme, shows it is not just children who can benefit. It suggests that fluoride can help to prevent tooth decay in adults of all ages, regardless of whether they began drinking it during childhood.
Campaigners insist that it is needed here because of our sugary diets yet there is still resistance to adding fluoride.
More than 150 million people in the US drink fluoridated water although 50 cities or towns have withdrawn fluoride from supplies since 1990.
There is no convincing evidence that fluoride, which is tasteless and occurs naturally in tea, curly kale and fish and is found in chemical form in most toothpaste brands, damages health. However fluoride has been linked to cancer, bone disease and infertility while some people complain that years of drinking fluoride has stained their teeth but tests are inconclusive.
Others simply prefer their water to be "pure" and are opposed to adding anything, although chlorine has been added to our supplies for many years.
Court battles have been fought in areas of the UK where fluoridation has been proposed, such as Southampton, with opponents describing it as "forced mass medication".
The Government recommends that water should be fluoridated in areas where the amount of fluoride found naturally is low.
Professor Michael Lennon, scientific adviser for the British Fluoridation Society, says: "The opposition is small but vocal. Next year we celebrate 50 years of adding fluoride to water supplies in Birmingham and there are no health reasons against it.
"I'd like to see the same process in places such as Manchester and Glasgow where it is necessary to improve dental health."
What a biased one sided report. Prof Lennon of the "British Fluoride Society" would say that - Why does the fluoride a waste product from manufacturing fertiliser need a society to represent it?
More than 150 million people in the US drink fluoridated water although 50 cities or towns have withdrawn fluoride from supplies since 1990.
There is no convincing evidence that fluoride, which is tasteless and occurs naturally in tea, curly kale and fish and is found in chemical form in most toothpaste brands, damages health. However fluoride has been linked to cancer, bone disease and infertility while some people complain that years of drinking fluoride has stained their teeth but tests are inconclusive.
Others simply prefer their water to be "pure" and are opposed to adding anything, although chlorine has been added to our supplies for many years.
Court battles have been fought in areas of the UK where fluoridation has been proposed, such as Southampton, with opponents describing it as "forced mass medication".
The Government recommends that water should be fluoridated in areas where the amount of fluoride found naturally is low.
Professor Michael Lennon, scientific adviser for the British Fluoridation Society, says: "The opposition is small but vocal. Next year we celebrate 50 years of adding fluoride to water supplies in Birmingham and there are no health reasons against it.
"I'd like to see the same process in places such as Manchester and Glasgow where it is necessary to improve dental health."
What a biased one sided report. Prof Lennon of the "British Fluoride Society" would say that - Why does the fluoride a waste product from manufacturing fertiliser need a society to represent it?
posted by Bill at
9:57 AM
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