New Zealand - call to fluoridate.
Fluoride urged as infants' teeth rot
26 August 2006
By KAMALA HAYMAN
The horrifying case of a four-year-old girl who needed 16 rotten teeth removed has prompted a call for a public campaign to get drinking water fluoridated. Dr Martin Lee, clinical director of Canterbury's school and community dental service, has urged the public to lobby their councils over water fluoridation.
On a single day, Lee received six letters regarding children needing dental treatment at Christchurch Hospital. Five were children under six and two were just three years old. "Between them these five had 40 teeth extracted and 18 filled. One of the four-year-olds was left with just four of her 20 teeth."
Despite receiving such letters nearly daily, Lee said the cases still horrified him, not only because of the extensive treatment the children needed and the problems they faced having so many teeth removed at such a young age.
"It also upsets me that those children have suffered for months with pain and discomfort from their rotten teeth." In an open letter published in the Canterbury District Health Board's latest Health First community newsletter, Lee said the community had a duty to look after the next generation.
"I don't think we are doing enough to stop our children having to suffer ... I'm asking all of you to help – if you think water fluoridation is a good idea, please write to your council."
Lee said the epidemic of tooth decay among children was partly due to diets high in sugar and a failure to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
However, fluoridated water was the most important thing a community could do to improve the situation. The Ashburton District Council has reopened the debate over fluoride after it realised decay levels in the town had leapt 25 per cent since fluoride was removed from drinking water in 2002.
Lee said Christchurch was the only major city not to fluoridate its water.
Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore said fluoride was "a really good thing".
"But this city does not agree with tampering with its water. I think we should be looking at public health staff working through the schools to get fluoride tablets available to kids or through toothpaste."
In Canterbury, half of all children have at least one cavity by their fifth year. Twenty per cent, or 1000 five-year-olds, have more than five holes.
Children from low socio-economic backgrounds are most at risk, with nearly 70% experiencing decay by the age of five.
Christchurch Hospital special needs dentist Ian Esson said it was rare for children to have all their teeth removed and only a small percentage would have as many as 16 taken out.
However, such children "cope remarkably well" with few or no teeth, Esson said. "They're often quite relieved because the pain is gone."
Adult teeth usually arrived between the ages of five and 12.
low socio-economic backgrounds = poor and uneducated - why not educate and inject self esteem rather than wholesale medication.
26 August 2006
By KAMALA HAYMAN
The horrifying case of a four-year-old girl who needed 16 rotten teeth removed has prompted a call for a public campaign to get drinking water fluoridated. Dr Martin Lee, clinical director of Canterbury's school and community dental service, has urged the public to lobby their councils over water fluoridation.
On a single day, Lee received six letters regarding children needing dental treatment at Christchurch Hospital. Five were children under six and two were just three years old. "Between them these five had 40 teeth extracted and 18 filled. One of the four-year-olds was left with just four of her 20 teeth."
Despite receiving such letters nearly daily, Lee said the cases still horrified him, not only because of the extensive treatment the children needed and the problems they faced having so many teeth removed at such a young age.
"It also upsets me that those children have suffered for months with pain and discomfort from their rotten teeth." In an open letter published in the Canterbury District Health Board's latest Health First community newsletter, Lee said the community had a duty to look after the next generation.
"I don't think we are doing enough to stop our children having to suffer ... I'm asking all of you to help – if you think water fluoridation is a good idea, please write to your council."
Lee said the epidemic of tooth decay among children was partly due to diets high in sugar and a failure to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
However, fluoridated water was the most important thing a community could do to improve the situation. The Ashburton District Council has reopened the debate over fluoride after it realised decay levels in the town had leapt 25 per cent since fluoride was removed from drinking water in 2002.
Lee said Christchurch was the only major city not to fluoridate its water.
Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore said fluoride was "a really good thing".
"But this city does not agree with tampering with its water. I think we should be looking at public health staff working through the schools to get fluoride tablets available to kids or through toothpaste."
In Canterbury, half of all children have at least one cavity by their fifth year. Twenty per cent, or 1000 five-year-olds, have more than five holes.
Children from low socio-economic backgrounds are most at risk, with nearly 70% experiencing decay by the age of five.
Christchurch Hospital special needs dentist Ian Esson said it was rare for children to have all their teeth removed and only a small percentage would have as many as 16 taken out.
However, such children "cope remarkably well" with few or no teeth, Esson said. "They're often quite relieved because the pain is gone."
Adult teeth usually arrived between the ages of five and 12.
low socio-economic backgrounds = poor and uneducated - why not educate and inject self esteem rather than wholesale medication.
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