Fluoridated tap water ‘can reduce children’s risk of tooth decay’

Access to fluoridated tap water can help to improve the oral health of children and prevent tooth decay, according to a new US study.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill research analysed a nationally representative sample of nearly 16,000 children and adolescents aged two to 19 years, assessing their consumption of tap water against key health metrics.

Children and adolescents who did not drink tap water were shown to be more likely to experience tooth decay, but were less likely to have elevated blood lead levels.

It was noted that since the fluoridation status of participants' tap water was unknown, the observation that drinking tap water protects against tooth decay may in fact be an underestimate of the protective effect fluoride offers.

Dr Gary Slade, of the department of dental ecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said: "Community water fluoridation benefits all people, irrespective of their income or ability to obtain routine dental care. Yet we jeopardise this public good when people have any reason to believe their drinking water is unsafe."

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