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5 December 2007
Premier Bligh bites the bullet on water fluoridation
Queenslanders will now have better oral health following today’s decision by the Premier Anna Bligh and Health Minister Stephen Robertson that the Queensland Government will take immediate steps to introduce fluoride to the state’s water supplies for communities over 1000 people.
Over 50 years of lobbying by dentists in Queensland for fluoridated water to be made readily available to Queenslanders has finally paid off with today’s announcement by the Government.
Only 5 percent of Queensland residents currently have access to fluoridated water, which has been available for decades to more than 15 million Australians living mainly interstate.
Australian Dental Association Queensland Branch (ADAQ) President, Dr Martin Webb said: “This is a health issue as well as a social justice issue because generations of Queenslanders have been denied access to the proven benefits of water fluoridation in improving oral health in conjunction with good oral hygiene and good diet.
“Water fluoridation is universally regarded as a safe, effective and efficient means of reducing tooth decay across a population and it is pleasing that the historical and political factors that left most Queenslanders without access to fluoridated water have finally been resolved.”
“We commend Premier Bligh for listening to the advice of health professionals and for bringing Queensland into line with other states in adopting this widely accepted public health policy, which is endorsed by all leading health groups including the World Health Organisation.”
“Repeated surveys show the majority of Queenslanders want water fluoridation, including the 2006 Queensland Social Survey conducted by the Population Research Laboratory at Central Queensland University which showed 76 percent of Queenslanders support water fluoridation, 83 percent believe it is safe and 86 percent believe it is effective in preventing tooth decay.
“It is encouraging to see Premier Bligh governing in the health interests of the majority. The small minority that opposes fluoridated water for their own reasons can choose to use reverse osmosis filters, or bottled water, if they prefer. “
Dr Webb said the Queensland Oral Health Alliance – made up of dentists, doctors, pharmacists and public health professionals – supports water fluoridation at the optimal level of 0.6-1.1ppm as a key part of improving oral health along with good oral hygiene and good diet.
“Water fluoridation reduces the likelihood of tooth decay occurring not just in children but also in adults and the elderly, so it is satisfying to know that it will now be available throughout most of the state,” Dr Webb said.
For comment, contact Dr Martin Webb on 07 5495 2424 or 0412 781 137 for Dr Robert McCray on 0412 145 771. Media contact, Jane Milburn 0408 787 964
All of the information included on this web site is accurate to the best of knowledge of the Australian Dental Association (Queensland Branch). To make the text more readable for non-scientists, ADAQ has deliberately minimised attributions and links to supporting files or scientific attachments. However these sources are readily available if required and many can be found via www.health.qld.gov.au/fluoride. |
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