NZ - Garth George: Non-watered down 'yes' to fluoride

The recommendation of the parliamentary health committee released last week - to invest in a nationwide oral health campaign and transfer responsibility for fluoride additives to Ministry of Health and district health boards - is the only one of several likely to have immediate and measurable benefits for many of the nation's children.

Taking the responsibility for supplying fluoridated water supplies out of the hands of local body politicians - who invariably panic when faced with vociferous minority views or whimper the moment the subject is raised - is the way to go.

It is certainly to be hoped that within the next couple of years more water supplies will be fluoridated - particularly those of Tauranga and Rotorua.

In fact, with Steve Chadwick, a former associate minister of health, as its new mayor, Rotorua should be enthusiastically approaching the health authorities already and demanding fluoridation.

In its comprehensive special report on improving children's health outcomes, the committee says oral disease is among the most prevalent chronic diseases in New Zealand and among the most preventable in all age groups.

"We heard that oral diseases and their consequences, such as embarrassment, pain, and self-consciousness, can have a profound effect on a person's quality of life and ability to gain employment ...

"Caries can also affect children's development, school performance, and behaviour, and thus families and society in general. Promoting good oral health benefits children of all ages."

Even more reason for Tauranga and Rotorua to fluoridate their water supplies quickly is that the committee reported that the 2009 New Zealand Oral Health Survey found Maori children had poor access to oral health services and worse oral health outcomes among children living in areas of high socio-economic deprivation.

The committee says that children appear to have better oral health in areas with a fluoridated water supply, with a higher caries-free rate and a lower average number of decayed, missing or filled teeth in all three ethnic groups, and in all age groups.

"The scientific evidence was clear that when fluoride is added to the water supply in appropriate monitored doses there is a reduction of dental caries in children, particularly children living in low socio-economic families."

The committee recommends to the Government that it work with local government and the Ministry of Health to make district health boards responsible for setting standards around water-quality monitoring and adjustments to meet World Health Organisation standards, including the optimal level of fluoridation of water supplies.

"This should be implemented within two years of this report being published," the report said.

Let's hope it is - or even sooner preferably.

garth.george@hotmail.com