Joint Response: Expansion of community water fluoridation across the North-East
Association of Directors of Public Health North East
North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board
North East Regional Local Dental Committee
Health partners regionally have welcomed a UK-wide Government announcement to expand water fluoridation in the North East to reduce tooth decay and its impacts.
As an Integrated Care System representing Dental Public Health across the North East, we are delighted by today’s announcement and the Government’s commitment to improve oral health across our region.
Tooth decay is the most common oral disease affecting our children and young people with lifelong impacts. Although largely preventable, a significant proportion of our residents still experience poor oral health. Ensuring drinking water contains the recommended level of fluoride is an effective way to help prevent tooth decay for all people irrespective of age. Some areas of the North East already have tap water which contains fluoride at these recommended levels and this has been very effective at reducing dental decay for the population living in these areas.
The Association of Directors Public Health North East (ADPHNE), the North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) and the North East regional Local Dental Committee express their full support for the Government’s commitment to support supervised toothbrushing programmes, public oral health campaigns and expand community water fluoridation, recognising that measures announced today will help us to :
·Extend existing effective, safe, and cost-effective public health measures to all homes in the region
·Significantly reduce hospital admissions for tooth extractions: In the North East 2 out of 3 hospital admissions could be avoided in non-fluoridated areas compared to fluoridated areas.
·Reduce health inequalities, with the greatest reductions in tooth decay expected to be seen in areas with the highest levels of deprivation
Water fluoridation alone, will not eliminate tooth decay, but will as part of the full range of measures proposed reduce decay levels and the impact of dental disease in the North East.
As an Integrated Care System we fully support the Governments commitment to improve Oral Health and look forward to working with DHSC and Northumbrian Water to extend the provision of Community Water Fluoridation to all our residents.
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Sir Liam Donaldson, Chair of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said:
"The decision to introduce water fluoridation in the region is long overdue and will be a huge step forward for better health and narrowing the health inequalities gap. Severe dental decay, especially in our poorer areas, means that our children suffer levels of pain and misery which are avoidable.
"Some parts of the region already have naturally occurring fluoride in their water, and this has been shown to safely protect the children who benefit by living in fluoridated areas.
"Alongside this important dental health measure, we are also putting more money into urgent dental services in the North East and North Cumbria.
"Global health experts have described water fluoridation as one of the top public health achievements, alongside tobacco control, vaccination and food safety."
Gill O'Neill FFPH, Executive Director of Public Health, Inequalities and Stronger Communities, Northumberland County Council, said:
“Although largely preventable, a significant proportion of our residents still experience poor oral health. Ensuring drinking water contains the recommended level of fluoride is a safe and effective way to help prevent tooth decay for all people irrespective of age. Water fluoridation alone, will not eliminate tooth decay, but will as part of the full range of measures proposed reduce decay levels and the impact of dental disease in the North East. We fully support the Governments commitment to improve Oral Health and look forward to working with DHSC and Northumbrian Water to extend the provision of Community Water Fluoridation to all our residents”
Jennifer Owen, Chair of the Regional Local Dental Committee said:
“Fluoride makes enamel stronger and more stable, making it less susceptible to tooth decay. As a dentist we will always actively encourage brushing twice a day and reducing sugary foods and drinks, but, by making our enamel stronger, and reducing the ability of bacteria to produce tooth decay we are benefiting the whole population. How can we ethically deny this huge health benefit to so many, when we have the means and infrastructure to provide it?”
Professor Chris Vernazza, Head of School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Professor of Oral Health Services and Honorary Consultant in dentistry said:
“In my clinical work, I see the devastating impact of dental decay on children and their families and every time I remove multiple teeth from a child under general anaesthetic, I am deeply saddened. There is good evidence for the benefits and safety of water fluoridation and the economic arguments stack up too. I fully support implementation of fluoridation in our region as a key part of the package required to prevent this widespread disease”.
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