Water fluoridation
The Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) supports the fluoridation of drinking water supplies in Victoria.
There is universal agreement between all the major public health bodies throughout the world regarding the benefits of water fluoridation. Starting at the top with the World Health Organization and extending to many peak health bodies, fluoridation is a widely supported preventive health measure.
Water fluoridation helps protect teeth against decay, and is the most effective way of allowing everybody access to the benefits of fluoride. Scientific studies have shown that water fluoridation is a safe and effective way to reduce tooth decay, even though there is widespread use of fluoridated toothpaste. In Australia, children living in optimally fluoridated areas experience considerably less tooth decay than those in areas without optimal fluoridation. Ninety per cent of Victorians now drink water with either naturally-occurring or added fluoride. Water fluoridation is an effective, inexpensive and socially equal way to reduce tooth decay in children and adults.
