Southampton children paying for anti-fluoride decision
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- Published: Tuesday, 24 May 2016 13:21
- Written by News Editor
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More than a third of children are starting school in Southampton with rotting teeth, it has been revealed. The figures are also on the rise and confirm Southampton has the worst oral health rates in the South East. Eighteen months ago plans to add fluoride to the city’s water supply were scrapped after public outcry over the move.
Public Health England (PHE) confirmed they would not go ahead with the fluoridation scheme in the face of overwhelming public opposition and against the wishes of both Hampshire County and Southampton City councils. But they insisted adding fluoride to the supplies of 160,000 Southampton residents and a further 35,000 people in neighbouring parts of south west Hampshire, was safe and effective way to help address the area’s poor dental health record.
The latest figures show a deterioration in the levels of tooth decay since that decision was made. When asked whether the plan could be tabled again a spokesman for Public Health England said it would be down to the local authority to begin that discussion. In a statement they said: “Water fluoridation is one of a range of actions, including supervised tooth brushing, that councils can consider to improve oral health in their area.”
The new statistics were published by PHE in its latest Oral Health Survey from 2014/15. They showed that 33.7 per cent of 1,155 five-year-olds in Southampton surveyed displayed obvious signs of tooth decay. City health chiefs say more needs to be done to tackle the problem, although new projects are being rolled out to help improve children’s teeth.
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