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UK Against Fluoridation

Friday, April 27, 2012

Put fluoride in all water supplies; LETTERS

Put fluoride in all water supplies; LETTERS
Daily Post (Liverpool)
April 26, 2012
I CONGRATULATE the Daily Post on highlighting the shocking state of children' teeth in North Wales (April 16), with almost half of children under 5 having tooth decay. The problem is proportionally worse for children from poor backgrounds. This adds up to a picture of pain, misery and a loss of self esteem, hundreds of general anaesthetics, lost working days for parents, and a waste of precious NHS money that could be put to better use.

It is not necessary - dental disease is preventable.

The Welsh Government's 'Designed to Smile' programme has started in North Wales. It includes tooth brushing, healthy eating and drinking, dental screening and fluoride varnish applications. There is need for a radical solution, which will make a dramatic impact on children's dental health and will be particularly effective in raising the standard of teeth of the very poorest children, bringing them up to the levels enjoyed by the more affluent. This measure is fluoridation of water supplies.

Is it safe? Yes, fluoride is present in all water supplies and in some parts of the UK it occurs naturally at a level of 1 part per million. Fluoridation schemes increase the level to 1 part per million. There has been long experience of such schemes in the USA [since 1944], Republic of Ireland [1960s] and the West Midlands [1980s]. All schemes have been closely monitored and there has been no evidence of any adverse health effects.

Does it work? Yes, where fluoridation has been introduced there has been a dramatic reduction in children's tooth decay, particularly for the poorest children, bringing their dental health up to the levels of children in the most affluent areas. The Republic of Ireland [mainly fluoridated] has up to 50% less tooth decay than in Northern Ireland [non-fluoridated].

Here in North Wales the benefits of fluoridation have been proved. In 1964 water supplies on Anglesey were fluoridated at 1 part per million. A study in 1987 showed that the children on Anglesey had 65% less tooth decay than on mainland Gwynedd. Significantly the teeth of the poorest children were as healthy as those in the most affluent parts of the UK.

To their lasting shame Welsh Water stopped fluoridating in 1992 (at the time they had the legal power to do this). Now the teeth of the children of Anglesey are as bad as elsewhere in North Wales.

So, there is a radical and cost effective solution to achieve a significant reduction in children's tooth decay in North Wales. It is surely not too much to ask people to agree a measure which harms nobody, and prevents much pain and suffering to children.

Huw Thomas (formerly Chief Executive, Gwynedd Health Authority).

? Please keep your letters concise and give your name, address and telephone number. Letters may be edited and are published at the editor's discretion.

Fancy responding to this former CEO?

7 Comments:

  • This is a very informative article..I just located this site but I will be sure that I bookmark it. Dental Suppliers Ireland

    By Blogger dany chandra, at 03 December, 2012  

  • To eliminate the possibility of having children wear braces and other dental problems such as infections, abscesses, etc. is recommended that parents stay alert to small children fall asleep with a bottle of milk, formula or sweet liquid in their mouths. For children who cry excessively, interim relief between sweet bottle-feed may be given by the cold water in a bottle. Also, never give a child a pacifier dipped in sweet products. Finally, the appearance of red marks, swelling or unusual in your child's mouth, immediately consult a pediatrician teeth.

    childrens teeth

    By Blogger Unknown, at 15 May, 2013  

  • Try giving your children less Sugar in their diets! No amount of poisonous fluoride can combat the detrimental effects sugar does on the human body.

    Fluoride is an industrial waste product and has no business being in our drinking water! Think and educate yourself before you spread ignorance to the masses.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 13 June, 2013  

  • There is plenty of evidence that flouide is toxic and detrimental to human health.

    By Anonymous Michael Davies, at 16 August, 2013  

  • As mentioned above - the evidence is building proving detrimental effects to human health caused by fluoride, in particular sodium fluoride and the others created along side it as a by product of fertilizers. Again, mindless people trying to solve a problem with a deadly chemical with no thought to human health- instead of looking at the underlying problem. Our latest generation is lacking in dental and health education and promotion. I am shocked at the ignorance of some on this subject! NO TO FLOURIDATION OF WATER AND DENTAL PRODUCTS AND FOODS PLEASE!

    By Blogger Bangor Student, at 20 July, 2014  

  • Flouride is an industrial waste then they add it to our water can cause depression as well as many other health negatives . I pay for my water I wil not be paying if they deliberately poison my water.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 29 October, 2016  

  • Flouride is a neurotoxin which is harmful to the human body It can hinder a childs brain developement and is linked to causes of ADHD We do not want this in our drinking water What damages childrens teeth is their intake of sugar They eat too many sweets and there is too much sugar being added to food we buy Putting flouride in water began around the same time they told us that smoking was safe . ! Our water supply needs to be as pure as possible

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 18 June, 2017  

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