Our Ref: NHS WM FOI 2011/668
Our Ref: NHS WM FOI 2011/668
Sent by e-mail to:
18 January 2012
DearTaron,
Re:Request under the Freedom of Information Act
I am writing in response to your request under the Freedom of Information Act to NHS Midlands and East, received on 16 December 2011.
You asked for the following information:
- The reasons for fluoridating the water – what research material has been used to support this view?
As you may be aware, fluoride occurs naturally in all water supplies. Precise concentrations vary from place to place. Studies around the world showed many years ago that there were significant reductions in tooth decay from natural fluoridation.
In most places, the fluoride level in the water is too low to benefit dental health. However, since the mid-1940s it has been technically possible to top up a deficiency in the fluoride content of water by adding some more fluoride under carefully controlled conditions. As at 2012, it is estimated that around 370 million people worldwide are drinking water with added fluoride.
Many studies have been carried out in the UK and in other countries to assess the benefits of fluoridated water to which fluoride has been added in order to bring its concentration up to the optimum for dental health.
Four systematic reviews of the scientific evidence have been undertaken within the past 12 years. All four have identified dental health benefits resulting from consumption of fluoridated water:
1. A systematic review published by the University of York in 2000 found that, on average, children in fluoridated areas had 2.25 fewer teeth decayed, missing and filled than those in non-fluoridated areas. This represents around a 40% reduction. The York review also found that, on average, nearly 15% more children in fluoridated areas were caries-free than in non-fluoridated areas and that, on the basis of the best available evidence, the dental benefits of water fluoridation were over and above those of fluoride toothpaste and other sources of fluoride.
2. A systematic review published by a US Task Force on Community Preventive Services in 2002 found that, on average, children aged between 4 and 17 in fluoridated areas had between about 30% and 50% less tooth decay than those in non-fluoridated areas.
3. A systematic review published by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council in 2007 concluded that the introduction of water fluoridation is ‘strongly associated’ with a reduction in levels of decayed, missing and filled teeth and an increase in the percentage of children who are caries-free.
4. A systematic review of the worldwide evidence pertaining to adults and water fluoridation (published in 2007 in the Journal of Dental Research) found that, on average, those who lived in fluoridated areas all their lives had between about 27% and 35% fewer teeth affected by decay than those who lived in non-fluoridated areas.
From the direct experience of fluoridation in our region for nearly half a century, the Strategic Health Authority is satisfied that fluoridation of water has made a major contribution to dental health improvement as well as helping to reduce the dental health inequalities that ordinarily exist in non-fluoridated communities between children from different social groups.
Complaints Route
If you have a complaint about the way in which your request for information was handled, please contact the Chief Executive of the Midlands and East SHA cluster, Sir Neil McKay CB, at the following address:
2-4 Victoria House
Capital Park
Fulbourn
Cambridge
CB21 5XB
If, after attempts at local resolution you remain dissatisfied with the way in which your request was handled, you can write to the Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545745
Email:
Responsibility for enforcing the Freedom of Information Act rests with the Information Commissioner, who is an independent public official responsible directly to Parliament. His role is to promote good practice, provide information about the public’s rights under the Act, and enforce compliance with the Act.
Yours Sincerely
Carolyn Lawley
Parliamentary/Communications Manager