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Fluoride tablets no substitute for water fluoridation
21 July 2006
Fluoride tablets are not a substitute for water fluoridation
Fluoride tablets are not a satisfactory alternative to water fluoridation as a means of improving oral health, said Australian Dental Association Queensland Branch President Dr Robert McCray.
Responding to reports the National Party is discussing this issue at its conference this weekend, Dr McCray said the problem with fluoride tablets is they require strict adherence that is extremely difficult for most people, adults and children, to maintain over time.
“Fluoride tablets can help but water fluoridation has a much wider reach, has a more prolonged effect and is regarded internationally as the gold standard for delivering community-wide oral health benefit – that’s why it is available in every other capital city in Australia (except Brisbane),” Dr McCray said.
“No disrespect to the National Party, but this is a typical cop-out that has led to Queensland’s current failure to come to terms with a simple, cost-effective public health measure that has been available in every other state and territory capital city in Australia for decades.”
“Considered medical opinion is that fluoride tablets are not a substitute for water fluoridation because they give a concentrated treatment rather than spread it throughout the day.
Another limitation is the actual availability of fluoride tablets.”
“We’re going round in circles with this one. In the past, some local councils including Brisbane made free fluoride tables available for residents, in lieu of water fluoridation, but my understanding is that there was little uptake.”
Dr McCray said it is reprehensible that every year in Queensland 2000 children aged under six, and many more over that age, require a general anaesthetic (with its associated risks) to have their teeth repaired or removed because of decay exacerbated by the lack of water fluoridation in this state.
The ADAQ is campaigning for more widespread availability of water fluoridation in large population centres of Queensland. It is currently only available to 5 percent of Queenslanders, and only in one city – Townsville – where research has shown that children between the ages of five and 12 have a tooth decay rate which is 45 percent less than children living in Brisbane.
Dr McCray called on local and state political leaders to listen to health experts and work out a way for more Queenslanders to benefit from this public health measure that has provided safe, effective oral health benefits for 75 percent of Australians for 30-50 years.
Water fluoridation is safe and effective, and endorsed by medical professionals such as Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer, 2005 Senior Queenslander Professor John Pearn, Dr Gino Pecoraro and Dr Geraldine Moses, and Australian Medical Association Queensland President Dr Zelle Hodge (see www.fluoridationqld.com).
“It is morally repugnant that a few unwilling people continue to impose their views on this state, and leave generations of Queenslanders without this simple public health measure which is endorsed by all leading international health organisations,” Dr McCray said.
“As a direct result of Queensland’s failure to fluoridate, Queenslanders and have the worst tooth decay rates in the nation.”
For more details, contact Dr Robert McCray on 0412 145 771
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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