Fluoride debate rages again

Rotorua dentist Stuart Edward

If it achieves nothing else, a leading Rotorua dental campaigner hopes having the issue of fluoride back in the spotlight will force people to think about their oral health.

Rotorua dentist Stewart Edward has long led the charge to get fluoride added to the city's water supply through both his role as a dentist, but also as the former chairman of the Lakes District Health Board.

The issue has again raised its head after a submission from Toi Te Ora Public Health Service medical officer of health Dr Jim Miller, which asked the council to consider introducing fluoride to all water supplies serving more than 1000 people in the Rotorua district.

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Mr Edward said he still believed fluoridating the water supply was an "integral tool in the toolbox" for good oral health.

He said while it wasn't the be all and end all, it was about having as many tools as possible to fight decay.

"It's a huge part of the overall package."

Mr Edward said all age groups benefited from fluoride in the water - not just children. He said regular dental visits from the age of 2, as well as good oral hygiene and using fluoride toothpaste were all beneficial, but he believed fluoridating the water should go hand-in-hand with that.

"The reality is you have to find some way and its the best way of getting fluoride into the mouths and helping with preventing decay."

Mr Edward said he hoped councillors would get good information and have some "gumption" to make a decision. However he said even if it wasn't successful, he hoped the focus on oral health would be positive.

Rotorua district councillor and Lakes District Health Board member Charles Sturt said he was "totally opposed" to adding fluoride to the water.

"Do we put iron in the water? Do we put bromide in the water? Do we put Viagra in the water? Where does it start and where does it end."

Mr Sturt said those who wanted fluoride added should buy fluoridated toothpaste or tablets.

He said his position had caused the odd bit of flack or joke among health board colleagues, but it was something he felt strongly about.

"My own son at 4 had his four front teeth removed. He wasn't drinking water, it wouldn't have helped him."

He believed the focus should instead be on sugar, which he said was the problem.

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"Even if we put it in tomorrow, will in 15 years time it be any different?"

Statistics for the Lakes District Health Board area showed 5-year-old children in fluoridated areas (some areas of Taupo) 57 per cent were decay free compared with 49 per cent in non-fluoridated areas (like Rotorua and some other parts of Taupo).

The difference was highlighted even further with 58 per cent of 12 to 13-year-olds decay-free, compared with 39 per cent in non-fluoridated areas.