By Dr. Damien Walmsley and Dr. Alexander John Morris, University of Birmingham — The Conversation UK — 28 September 2021
The UK government recently announced plans to add fluoride to water to cut tooth decay. Tooth decay is the most common reason for hospitalisation in England in children aged six to ten, leading to nearly 40,000 tooth extractions a year at a cost to the NHS of £65 million. Fluoride — a naturally occurring mineral found in water in varying amounts — makes teeth stronger and is shown to reduce tooth decay. Around 25 countries already add fluoride to drinking water. Research shows that as little as 1mg of fluoride per litre is needed to tackle tooth decay, and that adding fluoride to water reduced tooth decay by 28% in five-year-olds in deprived communities, making them around 50% less likely to need teeth removed in hospital.
Despite concerns about fluoride’s safety — including alleged links to cancers, birth defects, thyroid problems and neurological damage — the authors note that while some studies have purported to show such links, they have not held up to academic scrutiny because they failed to adequately control for other factors. There is no credible scientific evidence that adding minimal amounts of fluoride to water causes cancer or other diseases. The most recent official report on fluoride’s safety in England found significant benefits from water fluoridation and no evidence of harm. The exception is skeletal fluorosis, which can occur only where naturally occurring fluoride levels in water are as high as ten times those seen in fluoridation schemes — not a concern in countries where levels are controlled. The authors conclude: “Expanding water fluoridation schemes is one effective way of addressing tooth decay. Tooth decay remains a significant burden for people and the NHS. Adding fluoride to water in other parts of The UK will be a safe and effective way of improving dental health for many people.”