UK - Parliament

Frank Field Chair, Work and Pensions Committee

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent comparative assessment he has made of the (a) level of fluoride in water supplied by regional water suppliers and (b) effect of those levels on child dental health.

Steve Brine The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care

The most recent comparative assessment can be found in Public Health England’s ‘Water Fluoridation Health Monitoring Report for England (2018)’ which can be viewed at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-fluoridation-health-monitoring-report-for-england-2018

This gives a detailed description of the effects on dental health of living in areas with a water fluoridation scheme (containing ≥0.7mg/l fluoride) compared to areas without a water fluoridation scheme.

The report found that in areas where there is a water fluoridation scheme children aged five in deprived areas are 39% less likely to experience tooth decay and children in deprived areas are 68% less likely to be admitted to hospital for dental extractions.

The report found that water fluoridation is an effective and safe intervention to improve oral health and reduces inequalities.