In favour of flouridation

The research, published in the journal of Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, has suggested that fluoridated water could help to solve the UK’s children tooth extraction crisis, while having no negative effects on their health.

The new research looked at areas which have fluoridation schemes in place and found that people living in these areas had 55 per cent fewer admissions for tooth extractions than those which didn’t. It also highlighted that children in these areas did not have any adverse health effects as a result of fluoridation.

Tooth decay is by far the biggest reason why primary school children are admitted to hospital, with 500 five to nine year olds being hospitalised as a result of it every week. These findings could have major consequences for the NHS which spends £30m a year on hospital based tooth extractions for children.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Nigel Carter OBE, explained why he believes fluoridation schemes are vital in fighting the UK’s tooth extraction crisis.