Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 12th July 2019.

Bill Wiggin Chair, Committee of Selection, Chair, Selection Committee

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on dental health of water fluorideconcentration.

Seema Kennedy The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care

Public Health England’s Water Fluoridation Health monitoring report for England 2018 provides the most recent comparative assessment of the effect on dental health of water fluoride concentration.

For example, this report found that if five-year-olds with the most tooth decay drank fluoridated water they would have 28% less tooth decay and be 45 to 68% less likely to need teeth removed in hospital.

The report’s findings are that water fluoridation is an effective and safe public health measure that reduces inequalities. This report can be viewed at the following link:

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