‘Landmark’ moment achieved in battle against tooth decay

The Government is expanding water fluoridation across England in a bid to tackle tooth decay. This measure is the biggest since the 1980s, and aims to address regional inequalities, particularly in deprived areas.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, which has been demonstrated to reduce tooth decay, and various fluoridation schemes have operated in England since the 1960s. At present, around 10% of the population can access fluoridated water, mostly in the North East and West Midlands regions.

The Oral Health Foundation welcomed the news, describing it as a ‘landmark’ moment. In a statement, their CEO Dr Nigel Carter said fluoridation has been proven to be one of the safest and most effective methods of reducing tooth decay in children and vulnerable communities. He added that it will result in fewer children suffering unnecessary pain.

For his part, the chair of the British Fluoridation Society (BFS), Barry Cockcroft, said that fluoridation has a positive impact on oral health, all the way from childhood through to old age, lessening the need for invasive dental surgery.

Its supporters claim water fluoridation has benefited millions of people around the world, and in the UK, there have been moves to further boost dental care with supervised toothbrushing along with access to NHS dentistry. Campaigners have urged the Government to step up investment in other areas of the UK that need water fluoridation.

To find out more about the benefits of fluoridation and fluoride toothpaste, and to access services such as Invisalign in Chester, make sure to book your next appointment with us at Art of Dental Care today.