NSW Health has applauded the decision of Palerang Council to add flouride to water supplies in Braidwood, Bungendore and Captains Flat.

John Irving from the department’s Teeth for Health program said the decision reflected exactly what the community wanted – and needed.

“There is an increasing realisation that oral health and general health are related and that there are shared common risk factors,” he said.

“As far as public health is concerned… water fluoridation is a safe, effective and equitable means of reducing the pain and discomfort of oral disease for communities – and it’s as simple as drinking water.”

He said the widespread backing of the Palerang community for flouridation – 75 percent of residents surveyed said they approved – was in line with state trends over the past few years.

“At state level public support runs at almost 90 per cent,” Mr Irving said.

“In the past year the trend has been upward by a percentage point or so.”

Print PDF