Fluoridated water reduces dental cavities in kids
12/11/2012 02:10
Teeth of children in towns with fluoridated water twice as healthy as those of other kids.
water bottle Photo: Courtesy
A fluoridation survey by the Health Ministry’s community dental medicine
department has shown that supplying fluoridated water in the drinking water
significantly reduced dental cavities in children in 2011 and 2012.
The
survey, led by Prof. Harold Sgan-Cohen, sampled the teeth of more than 2,000
12-year-olds in the modern Orthodox and Arab sectors in five cities – including
those with different socioeconomic backgrounds – around the country. The results
in cities and towns where there is no fluoride was compared with those where
water is fluoridated.
The researchers also looked for side
effects.
The survey found that children who lived in areas with
fluoridated water had better teeth than those who didn’t have fluoridated
drinking water. Cavities were twice as common among children without fluoride in
the water.
As for side effects, only a minimal amount of mild fluorosis
(spots on the teeth) was visible on teeth (as a result of getting too much
fluorosis resulting from fluoride drops of toothpaste), and this rate was
similar to findings in the rest of the world. This did not affect ministry
policy on fluoridation, the report said.