Credit: ©TS Photography/Photographer's Choice/Getty

Public Health England (PHE) published a report on Water fluoridation: Health monitoring in England 20181 in March this year, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. It is the second such report after the first was published in March 2014. The findings of both reports are consistent with the view that water fluoridation is an effective and safe public health measure.

The report found that:

  • Five-year-olds in areas with water fluoridation schemes were much less likely to experience tooth decay, and less likely to experience more severe decay than in areas without schemes

  • The chances of having a tooth/teeth removed in hospital because of decay were also much lower in areas with water fluoridation schemes

  • Children from all areas benefited from fluoridation, but children from relatively deprived areas benefited the most

  • Dental fluorosis, at a level that may affect the appearance of teeth, was observed in 10% of children/young people examined in two fluoridated cities; however, there was no difference between children and young people surveyed in fluoridated and non-fluoridated cities when asked about their opinion on the appearance of their teeth, taking into account concerns which have resulted from any cause (for example, poor alignment, decay, trauma or fluorosis)

  • Taken alongside the existing wider research, the results do not provide convincing evidence of higher rates of hip fracture, Down syndrome, kidney stones, bladder cancer, or osteosarcoma (a cancer of the bone) due to fluoridation schemes.

Professor John Newton, Director of Health Improvement at PHE, said: 'The evidence in this report shows water fluoridation is a safe and effective method to reduce tooth decay, especially among deprived communities. We would encourage local authorities to consider this evidence carefully when deciding on their plans to improve dental health in their areas'.

The Oral Health Foundation referred to the report as 'paving the way to eliminating children's dental health crisis in England'. CEO Dr Nigel Carter OBE said: 'The single biggest improvement to the oral health of Britain in recent years came with the introduction of fluoride in toothpastes and that can be eclipsed further with more water fluoridation schemes.

'During my time as a dentist in Birmingham, I witnessed first-hand the huge benefits of water fluoridation, with children from Birmingham, which had water with added fluoride, having little or no decay and their neighbours from then un-fluoridated Sandwell experiencing significantly higher levels of decay. I could literally tell which side of the road they lived on by looking at their teeth.'