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Home | Home > Endorsements for Fluoride Campaign > The Otago Branch of the New Zealand Dental Therapists' The Otago Branch of the New Zealand Dental Therapists'
Fluoride Referendum Central Otago, Clutha, Southland and Waitaki Districts
The Otago Branch of the New Zealand Dental Therapists' Association welcomes the opportunity to publicly endorse the use of fluoride in community water supplies to help reduce the incidence of tooth decay.
As dental therapists we are usually the first health professionals to see the effects of tooth decay. Lack of general well-being, toothache, fillings, abscessed teeth and teeth extractions are by no means trivial problems and are not something any community would willingly inflict on its children.
All water and many foods contain some fluoride but unfortunately this is not to the optimum level to help prevent tooth decay. Fluoride was introduced in New Zealand in 1954 and, after many years of scientific research and observation, there has been no real evidence that it causes adverse health effects.
However, research does show that fluoride in water has reduced the tooth decay rate in excess of 30% in New Zealand children and reduces oral health inequalities among children (Lee M. Dennison P. 2004 and Treasure E, Deaver J. 1994). Fluoride in water makes teeth stronger and more resistant to dental decay. It also interferes with the growth of decay-causing bacteria and helps repair the early stages of tooth decay.
The Otago Branch of the New Zealand Dental Therapists' Association supports the use of fluoride in community water supplies, as dental therapists frequently see the devastating effects of tooth decay in New Zealand children. The Branch urges you, as a community, to have your voice heard to help prevent children suffering needlessly from preventable dental decay.
Lee M, Dennison P. NZ Dental Journal. 2004 March; 100(1):10-15 Vote Fluoride :: Support, Compared to national statistics some communities within Southland and Otago have very poor oral health. Examples include preschoolers facing baby teeth extractions under anaesthesia, primary school students with multiple fillings and adults living with ongoing, chronic dental pain that may prevent them working. Otago and Southland District Health Boards have asked local councils to hold referenda to add fluoride into the drinking water supplies of these communities. Fluoride is recommended by the World Health Organisation and New Zealand’s Ministry of Health as a means of improving oral health. Vote, Fluoride, ::, Support, Vote, fluoride, southland, otago, new zealand, referenda, add, health, oral, teeth, water, dental, elections, campaign, councils, communities, drinking, | |||||
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