Lymington Times - Fluoride opponents 'misreading' tooth decay research, warns NHS
Fluoride opponents 'misreading' tooth decay research, warns NHS
ANTI-FLUORIDE campaigners claiming the state of children's teeth is improving without the controversial chemical are misinterpreting the figures, according to NHS chiefs.
Higher than average child, tooth decay was key to the South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) approving Southampton Primary Care Trust's proposals in February to fluoridate the city — including 8,000 people living in Totton.
However, latest research shows 31% of the city's five-year-olds had obviously decayed, .missing and filled teeth: almost equal to the 30.9% England average. The SHA has now been urged to reconsider its decision affecting up to 190,000 people in total.
Totton county councillor David Harrison said: "Good public health policy should always be guided by evidence. It is frankly inconceivable that the original decision to proceed with adding fluoride to tap water should not now be revisited. "If the main reason for undertaking this costly and unpopular step has now gone, logic demands that those responsible for deciding the issue should reconsider."
But the SHA said comparing this year's statistics with previous data would give the false impression of improving health because the new research was done differently.
For the first time parents had to expressly allow the children to be examined instead of, as before, having their consent presumed unless they objected — which the SHA said would lead to more children with better dental health being recorded.
Although pleased with the results, it said in a statement, the regional data hid "significant pockets of poor dental health in some of the big towns and cities in our region".
It added: "In this survey, for the first time, parents were required to give their consent in advance; this will have impacted on the results and therefore, as the authors state, these figures should not be compared with previous surveys.
"Tooth decay is entirely preventable and the local NHS is committed to giving children the best chance of good oral health by implementing a range of preventative programmes to combat the disease."
As reported in the 'A&T', a Moripoll carried out by the SHA showed 38% opposed fluoride against 32% in support. A 15,000-name petition was gathered by opponents who fear it has implications ranging from cancer to mottling of teeth — which is the only side-effect accepted by the NHS.
The SHA is also facing a High Court challenge to its fluoridation decision as well as a complaint to the health ombudsman about the way it consulted people.
ANTI-FLUORIDE campaigners claiming the state of children's teeth is improving without the controversial chemical are misinterpreting the figures, according to NHS chiefs.
Higher than average child, tooth decay was key to the South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) approving Southampton Primary Care Trust's proposals in February to fluoridate the city — including 8,000 people living in Totton.
However, latest research shows 31% of the city's five-year-olds had obviously decayed, .missing and filled teeth: almost equal to the 30.9% England average. The SHA has now been urged to reconsider its decision affecting up to 190,000 people in total.
Totton county councillor David Harrison said: "Good public health policy should always be guided by evidence. It is frankly inconceivable that the original decision to proceed with adding fluoride to tap water should not now be revisited. "If the main reason for undertaking this costly and unpopular step has now gone, logic demands that those responsible for deciding the issue should reconsider."
But the SHA said comparing this year's statistics with previous data would give the false impression of improving health because the new research was done differently.
For the first time parents had to expressly allow the children to be examined instead of, as before, having their consent presumed unless they objected — which the SHA said would lead to more children with better dental health being recorded.
Although pleased with the results, it said in a statement, the regional data hid "significant pockets of poor dental health in some of the big towns and cities in our region".
It added: "In this survey, for the first time, parents were required to give their consent in advance; this will have impacted on the results and therefore, as the authors state, these figures should not be compared with previous surveys.
"Tooth decay is entirely preventable and the local NHS is committed to giving children the best chance of good oral health by implementing a range of preventative programmes to combat the disease."
As reported in the 'A&T', a Moripoll carried out by the SHA showed 38% opposed fluoride against 32% in support. A 15,000-name petition was gathered by opponents who fear it has implications ranging from cancer to mottling of teeth — which is the only side-effect accepted by the NHS.
The SHA is also facing a High Court challenge to its fluoridation decision as well as a complaint to the health ombudsman about the way it consulted people.
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