Biting back with Arthur Dent
Dental déjà vu R
ecently I have had a strong feeling of déjà vu. The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) and the British Dental Association (BDA) have, yet
again, been promoting the issue of fluori- dation of public water supplies. They argue that enjoying the benefits of water fluoridation is something of a postcode lottery with only 10 per cent of the UK population living in areas where the water supply contains the optimum fluoride concentration of 1mg per one litre. Other developed countries are more
enlightened and have much better levels of coverage: USA and Ireland around 70 per cent, Australia 80 per cent and Hong Kong and Singapore 100 per cent. I, along with the vast majority of healthcare professionals, agree with the principle that water fluoridation is a good, cost-effective method of preventing dental caries. This is supported by all the major healthcare organisations including the royal colleges and dental faculties, the BMA and the World Health Organisation. So, if water fluoridation is effective and
cost efficient, why has it not been much more widely implemented in Britain? What exactly is the problem? The answer is that there is a lack of political will. There is a vocal and well-organised anti-fluoridation
lobby which finds it very easy to capture political, public and media attention. Dubious scare stories that fluoride can cause all manner of horrible diseases make much better news coverage than the truthful, but less dramatic, fact that fluoride helps prevent tooth decay. Over many years, starting as a dental student, I have been involved in political lobbying, letter-writing and media brief- ings all to promote water fluoridation and all to no avail. Many politicians and parties are inherently against this kind of ‘mass medication’ in principle; others who accept the scientific facts still baulk at water fluoridation because of the risk of a media and public backlash. A decision in 2008 to fluoridate the water supplies of Southampton has never materialised because of a sustained campaign against it. It is deeply regrettable that a vocal minority can influence and mobilise public opinion. My heart sinks at the thought of another round of pointless debate which will result, at best, in no change. I say at best because there are those in the anti-fluoride camp who argue that fluoride is a poison
“Flouride helps prevent decay”
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and should be removed from existing water supplies as well as from toothpastes, mouthwashes and other products. Instead of water fluoridation, there
are other ways of delivering fluoride – how about fluoridating fizzy drinks? The main reason for the improvement in oral health has been fluoride toothpaste. The success of the Childsmile programme, with the application of topical fluoride gel, has further decreased the levels of decay. It’s time to rest the water fluoridation
campaign and focus on other ways of improving oral health.
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www.scottishdentalmag.co.uk Scottish Dental magazine 5
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