Decay rates rise in Australia after fluoridation abandoned
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- Published: Thursday, 17 November 2016 07:48
- Written by News Editor
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Thousands of children in Queensland, Australia are admitted to hospital every year with decayed teeth as councils stop putting fluoride in drinking water. “We’re spending a fortune on general anaesthetics for kids with dental decay, it’s stupid. Water fluoridation saves truckloads of money in saved dental costs,” Australian Dental Association's Michael Foley said.
Data from Queensland showed 3,223 children aged 10 or less were hospitalised for tooth decay in 2013-14 - far higher than the national average. More than half of five to 10-year-olds seeing public dentists in 2014-15 had decay in their baby teeth, with an average of four per child. Tooth decay rates in five to 10-year-olds was 20 per cent higher than national averages to 2012-14 and 33 per cent higher in the permanent teeth of those aged nine to 14.
About three quarters of the state has fluoride in its water, up from five per cent when it was made compulsory in 2008, but has slipped since 2012 legislation allowed councils to opt out again. Only a third of Queensland's local councils still put fluoride in their water supply. The rising rates of tooth decay in children come as councils across the state are under pressure to take fluoride out of water supplies. Anti-fluoride activists claim it is a harmful chemical, buoyed by controversial figures like celebrity chef Pete Evans who refuses to drink tap water.
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