Australia - 'Fluoride is beneficial for children': Gladstone resident

GLADSTONE man Peter Brady understands why residents are calling for fluoride to be taken out of the water supply, but he also agrees with experts that say it's beneficial for children.
Mr Brady's mouth is full of cavities and fillings.
He grew up before dentists began lobbying the government to add fluoride to the water supply.
So when he had his own children he made sure they chewed fluoride tablets, but only until they were about ten-years-old.

Peter Brady says children should have access to flouride. Photo Helen Spelitis / Gladstone ObserverHelen Spelitis

"We were living in Bundaberg at the time and there were a group of dentists who ran an education campaign about the benefits of fluoride," Mr Brady said.
"The council used to hand the tablets out for free."
Unlike Mr Brady, his children have no cavities.
Mr Brady is hoping Gladstone Regional Council will adopt that model, although handing out fluoride tablets has already been ruled out by Mayor Matt Burnett.
"It is beneficial for children, but I do object to the mass medication of people," Mr Brady said.
"It should come out of the water supply.
"Unfortunately that might leave out the ones who need it the most out. If we do remove it, we need an education campaign that spells out the benefits."
According to the Australian Dental Association Queensland, before the introduction of fluoride into Queensland's water in 2008, only 5% of children had access to fluoridated water compared to 86% of Australia.
The ADAQ supports mass fluoridation of Queensland's water supply based on research such as a study undertaken by the University of Queensland in the Logan-Beaudesert area near Brisbane.
It found the addition of fluoride to the water supply reduced the incidence of decay in children aged four to nine by 19% in just 36 months.
Despite the expert opinion, removing fluoride became a major election issue with many voters seeking commitment from candidates they would vote to change the council's policy - last reviewed in 2013.
Keeping fluoride in Gladstone's water supply is costing residents about $26,000 a year.
Mayor Matt Burnett says he's in favour of removing it and that it should be a State Government decision.
Those comments follow last week's announcement from the state government it would continue to let councils decide.