Calls for Sugar Tax Supported by Dentists Against Fluoridation

Calls by New Zealand Dental Association spokesman Dr. Rob Beaglehole last week for a Sugar Tax to curb the high decay rate in Kiwi kids is fully supported by Dentists Against Fluoridation, says spokesman Dr. Stan Litras.

Comments by Associate Health Minister, Peter Dunne (Sunday, TVOne, March 8th), denying the need to curb sugar consumption in children are most alarming to any dentist, says Dr. Litras.

"Claiming that sugar is not the root cause of tooth decay, and suggesting that putting fluoride in the water will fix the problem of the large numbers of kiwi kids requiring dental treatment under general anaesthetic, reveals an extreme lack of knowledge in this area for which Mr. Dunne holds the portfolio.

I would ask Mr. Dunne for a start to explain why areas with water fluoridation have just as many or more kids requiring general anaesthetics?

The sugar industry has been aware that its product causes tooth decay and other health problems for decades, and has fought to maintain its market by lobbying health agencies and supporting water fluoridation in the hope that this will overcome the damage they are causing, as was again exposed in papers released last week http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150310143922.htm?utm_source=feedburner

Our Health Ministry needs to wake up to the fact that tooth decay is caused by sugar consumption, not lack of water fluoridation, and show some responsibility in this area.

Ill informed comments such as those made by Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne and also by social media blogger Cameron Slater, who subsequently attacked Dr. Beaglehole on his Whaleoil blog, do the New Zealand public a great disservice." Dr. Litras said.

Dentists Against Fluoridation is a new advocacy group for dentists which has arisen out of the dentist study group, Fluoride Information Network for Dentists.

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