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Fluoridated water puts ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s children in top 10 in world dental health

A new report into water fluoridation and children's dental health shows that children in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ have better oral health than children in most other countries.
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Monday, 17 December 2007

Children in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ have better oral health than children in most other countries, due largely to fluoridated water, according to new research conducted at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide.

A new report into water fluoridation and children's dental health has been released today by the . The report contains the findings of research conducted by the at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide.

"At any given age, in both baby teeth and permanent teeth, children who live in areas with optimal fluoridated water have less tooth decay than those from areas with low fluoride levels," says the report's author, .

"These differences in disease experience between fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas were as high as 66% for seven-year-olds," Mr Armfield says.

Optimal water fluoridation was associated with better dental health for both five to six-year-old and 11 to 12-year-old children regardless of the socioeconomic status of the area in which the children lived.

The report, Water fluoridation and children's dental health: The Child Dental Health Survey, ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ 2002, found that compared to children in other countries, ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n 12-year-olds have the seventh lowest average number of decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth.

"Although ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ns are doing well in the world stakes, locally, oral health problems in children are still evident," Mr Armfield says.

In 2002, more than 47% of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n six-year-olds had cavities in their baby teeth. On average, for every six-year-old child in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ there were approximately two decayed, missing or filled baby teeth.

At the same time, more than 42% of 12-year-olds had cavities in their permanent teeth. For every 12-year-old in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, there was approximately one decayed, missing or filled permanent tooth.

Levels of dental decay in children varied around ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, with the average number of decayed, missing or filled deciduous teeth (among five to six-year-olds) highest in Queensland and the Northern Territory, and lowest in Western ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ and South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥.

The number of decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth in 12-year-olds was highest for the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Capital Territory, Queensland (which does not currently have state-wide fluoridation) and Tasmania, and lowest for South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ and the Northern Territory.

"Variations by state and territory reflect underlying population levels of disease as well as differences in the targeting of services," Mr Armfield says.

The AIHW Dental Statistics and Research Unit is based in the at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide's .

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