No plans to add fluoride to drinking water

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Monday, 2 March 2020 07:23

By Carmelo Garcia - Local Democracy Reporter

Herefordshire Council leaders say there are currently no plans to add fluoride to the water supply to fight tooth decay.

Public Health England say that five-year-olds in areas with a fluoridation scheme were much less likely to suffer tooth decay.

However, drinking water fluoridation is a highly divisive issue and continues to attract vocal opposition from some groups.

Councillor Jonathan Lester asked whether there were any plans to add fluoride to the water supply as part of a new oral health program being established.

Children and families cabinet member Felicity Norman replied: “There certainly are no plans, currently.

“It is something that will be discussed and it is something we need to look at. It’s not an easy one because it can be controversial. There are issues of compulsory medication and so on.

“It is something we need to look at but what we are concentrating on more urgently is ensuring all children get to the dentist from a very early age and that they are encouraged to have this treatment that is a fluoride coating for their teeth.

“It’s seen as something that is very effective and many children don’t actually have that. It’s something we are pushing and encouraging parents to specifically ask for.

“We have heard there are dentists who are not encouraging it so it’s something we have to work hard on.”