A dental expert is urging Hamiltonians to disregard a leaflet about a decision to stop fluoridation dismissing it as "wrong, unscientific and misleading" ahead of a referendum on the issue.
Dr Jonathan Broadbent, from the University of Otago's Faculty of Dentistry says the Hamilton City Council leaflet sent out last week was "largely inaccurate", over-simplified and did not reflect accepted public health advice.
Dr Broadbent says it was wrong on several points including that low-fluoride toothpaste was best for children's teeth.
"Families should purchase toothpastes that contain at least 1000ppm fluoride and avoid those labelled 'fluoride free', 'child strength' or 'low fluoride'," he said.
The leaflet suggested a "pea-sized" amount of toothpaste be used for all ages which Dr Broadbent said was contrary to New Zealand guidelines for the use of fluorides that says a smear of fluoride toothpaste is recommended until 5 years of age.
He also said the council's claim that application by means that directly affect the tooth surface were more effective than fluoridation was misleading because, he said, fluoridated water also acts on teeth by direct topical action.
"Water fluoridation works," he said.
Dr Geoff Lingard, president of the New Zealand Dental Association, said the Hamilton City Council made a poor decision when it removed the "health benefit" of fluoridating the city's water in June.
"It is not an authority on dental public health and is giving advice well outside its remit as a civic authority," he said.
But Fluoride Action Network New Zealand national co-ordinator Mary Byrne said the dental association's stance on what the council had said was illogical and arrogant.
"They're saying the council doesn't have a right to give out dental health advice yet they think the council should be responsible for treating the whole population with a dental medication."
"I think its extremely arrogant of the dental association to be saying they are the only experts, for one thing they are only dentists."
Ms Byrne said the network was still trying to spread information about the issue and is focusing on the fluoridation referenda in Hamilton as well as Whakatane and Hastings.
She said community meetings in Auckland on the matter would likely resume following the local body elections this year.
Hamiltonians will vote whether to re-continue fluoridation in a non-binding referendum at this year's local body elections after councillor Ewan Wilson gained enough signatures via a petition to force the matter.