Health bosses want fluoride in Worcestershire’s water

Around half of the county’s water is currently fluoridated, a public health measure intended to prevent tooth decay. According to the British Fluoridation Society, schemes to bring fluoride levels up to the recommended amount in parts of the county took place between 1970 and 1991. But areas including Worcester, Kidderminster, Stourport and the Malvern Hills […]

Does water fluoridation cause childhood IQ loss?

New research found ‘significant inverse associations’ between fluoride exposure and children’s IQ scores, calling the safety of water fluoridation into question. The study estimates that for every 1mg/L increase in urinary fluoride, a child’s IQ decreases by 1.63 points. Lead author Kyla Taylor said this is a ‘statistically significant association’ between fluoride exposure and lowered […]

Water fluoridation and dental health: 2024 update

Overview • Dental health is a significant public health concern with approximately 31,165 hospital admissions of children to extract decayed teeth in 2022- 23. The estimated cost to the NHS of all tooth extractions in children is £40.7 million per year, most of which result from avoidable tooth decay. • Although dental health has improved […]

Mixed opinions on fluoridation of Cornwall’s water

Councillors are torn over plans to add fluoride to Cornwall’s water supply in a bid to tackle “worsening oral decay levels”. The council’s health and adult social care overview and scrutiny committee met on Wednesday to discuss starting the process of adding the chemical compound to the water system. It comes after a report to […]

Councillors’ struggle on fluoride addition to Cornwall water

A number of Cornwall councillors have spoken of their struggle with the philosophical and ethical issue of the government adding fluoride to the Duchy’s drinking water. The issue split a health committee which met on Wednesday to discuss starting the process of adding the chemical compound to the water system. In England and Wales, less than […]