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Health chiefs call for fluoride boost
HEALTH bosses are calling for fluoride in water supplies across Chorley and South Ribble to be boosted to stop childrens' teeth rotting.
Dental experts say the area has only seen a three per cent improvement in the number of missing, decayed and filled teeth, compared to a national improvement of 11 per cent.
And they are worried the districts won't be able to meet the 2003 national target of an average of no more than one decayed, missing or filled tooth per 12 year old.
Now they want to increase the levels of fluoride in water supplies.
In a report to the Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust, public health director Shelagh Garnett and consultant in dental public health Gary Whittle, recommended the board support fluoridation.
They say in seven wards in Chorley and six in South Ribble, each child would have an average of at least one and a half fewer teeth affected by decay if the water was fluoridated.
Fluoride is partially absorbed into the enamel of the teeth, helping it resist acid from sugary food.
The experts say this would reduce the number of children suffering from pain and swelling and cut down on the 400 general anaesthetics administered yearly for tooth extractions.
Prompt
The trust board will now work with local authority officials to gauge public opinion on the matter.
But a move to fluoridate the water would prompt a protest from the National Pure Water Association and the North West Council Against Fluoridation. They claim fluoride is the toxic waste of the phosphate industry and a part two poison.
But Dr Garnett said she had no evidence to suggest fluoride had any adverse health effects.
She said: "Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. We are not suggesting putting something in that isn't there. We are suggesting raising the level of a natural substance.
"Fluoride alone won't have any effect - it must go hand in hand with a better diet and better oral hygiene."
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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