Water Fluoridation Breakthrough

April 12, 2016
Water Fluoridation Breakthrough

Dental Association is delighted with the Government’s announcement on water fluoridation

The New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) welcomes the Government’s announcement to transfer the decision making process about community water fluoridation to District Health Boards (DHB) from local government.

“Community Water Fluoridation has always been about improving oral health through safe, community wide, and cost effective means. To have the decision making process placed in the hands of District Health Boards whose responsibility is the improving the health of their communities, is brilliant a step in the right direction” says Dr David Crum, CEO of NZDA.

A report published on behalf of the Royal Society of New Zealand and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor titled “Health effects of water fluoridation: a review of the scientific evidence” strongly supports community water fluoridation.

“The report strongly reaffirms the NZDA’s position that community water fluoridation is a safe, effective and cost efficient way of reducing dental caries and reducing health inequalities,” says Dr David Crum.

“The NZDA congratulates the Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman, Minister of Health and Hon Peter Dunne, Associate Minister of Health for showing leadership and for taking the issue seriously by proposing to place decision making into the hands of health authorities. This could well lead to many many more New Zealanders receiving the health benefits of drinking adequately fluoridated water” says Dr David Crum.

References:

http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/2014/08/22/review-finds-community-water-fluoridation-safe-and-effective/

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