Study deems fluoride harmless to oral health
by Guy Hiscott
The Public Health England (PHE) has confirmed that fluoride shows ‘no evidence of harm’ to general and oral health, according to a recent survey.
This comes just days after an oral health expert described the campaigns against fluoride in water as ‘selfish’ – read the original story here.
The new survey shows that children in local authorities with water fluoridation schemes (where the level of fluoride is adjusted to one part per million) have less tooth decay than those in local authorities without such schemes.
The report also shows that rates of kidney stones and bladder cancer were lower in fluoridated areas than non-fluoridated areas.
Professor John Newton, chief knowledge officer at PHE, commented: ‘This is our first report on the health of people living in fluoridated areas, since the PHE came into existence in April 2013.
‘This report provides further reassurance that water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health measure.’
When deprivation and ethnicity are taken into account, 21% fewer 12-year-olds have tooth decay in fluoridated areas than non-fluoridated areas.
Sue Gregory, director of dental public health at PHE, said: ‘It is notable that the benefits of this public health measure appear to be greatest for children living in the most deprived areas of the country.’
Talks about the use of fluoride in water in Ireland comes to an end later this year.
The report’s findings can be found here.
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