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A new report published by Public Health England has confirmed that people living in fluoridated areas in the UK have lower levels of tooth decay, and children are far more likely to avoid the trauma of having diseased teeth removed under general anaesthesia, than those living in non-fluoridated areas.

The report confirms what the dental community has known for decades: that there is no evidence that water fluoridation schemes in the UK are harmful to health. It also notes that 28% fewer five-year-olds have tooth decay in fluoridated areas than non-fluoridated areas when deprivation and ethnicity – both important factors for dental health – are taken into account.

The British Dental Association (BDA) welcomed the report. Scientific adviser Professor Damien Walmsley said: 'The report is a timely reminder of the significant role that fluoridation plays in reducing tooth decay, which remains a significant problem in England. It also emphasises the important role [fluoridation] plays in alleviating the misery of dental general anaesthesia in children'.

Oral health charity the British Dental Health Foundation also welcomed the report. Public Health England found no differences between fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas in rates of hip fracture, cancer, and Down's syndrome births.

Chief Executive of the Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, hopes that this research will finally end the debate surrounding water fluoridation: 'Although water fluoridation schemes have been in place in the UK for more than 40 years, only around 5.5 million people have been drinking water from a fluoridated area. [...] Fluoridation is the most important single measure that the UK Government can take to bring a substantial change in the nation's dental health'.

To read the full report visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fluoride-monitoring-report-finds-lower-levels-of-tooth-decay-in-fluoridated-areas-and-no-evidence-of-harm-to-health.