UK - Water Fluoridation Debate Hotting Up in Hull

Discussions focused on the possibility of adding fluoride to the water supplies in Hull are in full flow.Plans to add fluoride to the city’s water system are being supported by MP and former Health Secretary Alan Johnson and the chair of the council’s health and wellbeing board, Councillor Colin Inglis. However, not everyone is convinced. Dentist Amir Mohagh strongly supports the use of fluoride varnish as a preventative treatment for children and adults, but he is less convinced by water fluoridation and believes that more research should be carried out to ascertain more information about possible side-effects. He also echoes the sentiments of many anti-fluoride campaigners and worries about people being left without the choice of whether or not they wish to consume fluoridated water.

Dr Mohagh believes that the crux of the problem lies at the feet of the parents who cannot be bothered to make sure that their children brush their teeth twice a day or that they have a balanced, healthy diet with moderated sugar intake. Dr Mohagh believes that people should not be subjected to a lack of choice because parents fail to give their children the best platform to enjoy good oral health.

Councillor Inglis admits that he has already received a string of strongly-worded emails on the subject of fluoridation and there have been protests in the city centre. He stressed that it is still very early days in the planning phase and it would take a minimum of three years to put proposals into place.

Figures from the British Dental Association show that rates of decay among five year old children in Hull are significantly higher the national average, with a rate of 43 percent compared to 28 percent.