Fluoride Decision Riles Experts

Fluoride Decision Riles Experts

Hamilton City Council's decision this week to stop fluoridating the town water supply has attracted criticism from scientists who fear other councils will follow suit at the expense of New Zealanders' dental health.

The 7-1 vote against fluoridation overturned a 2006 referendum result in which 38 per cent of Hamiltonians participated, 70 per cent voting in favour of fluoridation.

While other councils have opted out of fluoridation, which is applied to water drunk by around half the population, the Hamilton decision in particular has sparked concern among scientists and widespread public discussion.

"Water fluoridation is the single most effective, practical and safe means of reducing and controlling the amount and severity of dental decay in a community," said dentist and Vice President of the Dental Society, Dr Sathananthan Kanagaratnam.

"It is not just children who suffer dental decay; adults will continue to lose more teeth and suffer from poorer oral health if fluoride is removed."

University of Otago Senior Lecturer in Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, Dr Jonathan Broadbent, likewise criticised the move:

"Those who are unwilling to drink fluoridated water should not be permitted to impose the risks, damage, and costs of failure to fluoridate on others. The ethics and science in support of fluoridation are clear, but anti-fluoridation arguments often present a highly misleading picture of water fluoridation."

Scientists argue that the peer-reviewed evidence overwhelmingly points to fluoride not only being safe to consume when applied at the correct dosage, but significantly reducing tooth decay.

A New Zealand Herald editorial today concluded that the Council's decision "defies all logic".

"Given the abundance of research confirming the benefits of fluoridation, it seems bizarre that its use is even being discussed. Yet the number of councils bowing to the scaremongering of a vocal minority is increasing".

You can read more about the fluoridation issue on the SMC website.

ENDS

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