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Health Minister must go one step further on fluoridation
14 December 2006
Queensland Health Minister Stephen Robertson is to be commended for supporting water fluoridation as a means of improving oral health but the state government must do more to ensure its widespread introduction, according to the Australian Dental Association.
ADA Queensland Branch president Martin Webb said dentists are pleased Mr Robertson has spoken out in favour of water fluoridation, after depressing statistics in The Health of Queenslanders Report 2006 again show Queenslanders have the worst teeth in the nation.
The report says that in 2001 in six-year-olds in Queensland, the number of baby teeth with decay was nearly 30 percent higher than nationally with the results in permanent teeth in 12-year-olds being similarly higher.
“Multiply this out and it is an expensive problem with lifelong consequences,” Dr Webb said.
October dental waiting list figures reveal that nearly 97,000 Queenslanders are waiting for dental treatment for periods of up to 5-7 years.
“This is a social justice issue that must be addressed. Queensland cannot afford the cost and consequences of not having fluoridated water available for all residents.”
Dr Webb said doctors, pharmacists, dentists and public health advocates in the recently formed Queensland Oral Health Alliance – made up of the Queensland branches of the Australian Dental Association, the Australian Medical Association, the Pharmaceutical Society and the Public Health Association Australia – all support water fluoridation.
Only 5 percent of Queenslanders have access to this World Health Organisation-endorsed public health measure that is available to 15 million Australians living mainly interstate.
This is despite the fact that yet another survey – this time the 2006 Queensland Social Survey conducted by the Population Research Laboratory at Central Queensland University – showed that 76 percent of Queenslanders support for water fluoridation, 83 percent believe it is safe and 86 percent believe it is effective in preventing tooth decay.
“It is commendable that Mr Robertson is showing support for water fluoridation, but the State Government’s carrot of offering to pay capital costs is obviously not enough of an incentive for local governments to take responsibility for something that is predominantly a state government issue,” Dr Webb said.
“This Health of Queenslanders Report 2006 is yet another report that confirms the urgent need for water fluoridation in Queensland,” Dr Webb said.
Two years ago a comprehensive national oral health plan, Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives, Australia’s National Oral Health Plan 2004-13 was endorsed by Australian Health Ministers with one of the recommended short-term actions being: “Extend fluoridation of public water supplies to communities across Australia with populations of 1000 or more.”
Dr Webb said the interests of the majority should guide decision-makers in Queensland, with the few that oppose this World Health Organisation-endorsed public health policy being able to use reverse osmosis filters, or drink bottled water, if they prefer.
For comment, contact Dr Martin Webb on 5494 2424 or 0412 781 137.
Statement prepared by ADAQ media consultant 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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Give Queenslanders something to smile about