KOTA KINABALU: The Government and Sabah have agreed on a water fluoridation programme in the state after surveys showed that it has the highest incidence of bad teeth among children.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said a 2009 survey showed that out of every 10 children aged 12, five had dental caries on their newly emerging permanent teeth. An average of three teeth were affected.

In an earlier survey in 2007, it was found that seven out of 10 children aged 12 had dental caries on their newly emerging permanent teeth, also with an average of three teeth affected.

The Health Ministry and the state government came to an agreement to have water fluoridation as a public measure for caries prevention, Rosnah said when opening the Borneo Dental Congress 2011 here yesterday.

“The move should see future generations of Sabahans benefiting from the fluoridation programme, which is recommended by the World Health Organisation.

“It is important to ensure that fluoride levels of between 0.4 and 0.6 part per million is maintained, as provided for under the National Standard of Drinking Water Quality,” she said.

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