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Fluoridation in New Zealand

Water fluoridation


World Situation


About 60 countries have water fluoridation covering hundreds of millions of people.

For various reasons, some political, some logistical, many countries do not have fluoridation. Many countries are without public water supplies, many have more life-threatening health needs and many lack the funds to set up fluoridation systems.

There are also countries that do not have water fluoridation but provide fluoride through other means, for example, in salt (this is not as effective as water fluoridation and is not being recommended for New Zealand).

In 1994, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report reaffirming its support of fluoridation as safe and effective in preventing tooth decay.

In line with the WHO report countries are introducing and extending fluoridation. In September 2000, South Africa introduced regulations requiring every water provider to practise fluoridation unless exempted in writing by the Director-General. As of December 1999, it is mandatory in Israel for communities of more than 5000 people to fluoridate (already more than half of Israel is fluoridated).

The US continues to introduce fluoridation to new communities and California has made it compulsory for communities of 100,000 or greater. The US is also producing fluoridated bottled water because of the demand for it.

No country has discontinued or refused to adopt fluoridation because it was proven harmful in any way.

The American Dental Association stated in 1999 that ‘no European country has specifically imposed a ”ban” on fluoridation, it has simply not been implemented for a variety of technical or political reasons’.

In some European countries fluoride is added to salt to help prevent dental decay rather than adding it to water (for example, France, Germany and Switzerland). Other parts of Europe fluoridate their water (for example, Ireland and the United Kingdom). Fluoridation is not practical in some European countries because of the complexity of their water systems.

Countries with drinking-water supplies available with fluoride levels adjusted, or naturally, at 0.7ppm or above include: