Fluoridation in New Zealand

Fluoride and health

Other health conditions

Over the years, people opposed to fluoride have claimed that fluoridation is the cause of a number of diseases and conditions. It is not possible to list here all the studies that have been conducted to disprove these claims – it is enough to say that no real evidence exists to support a link between water fluoridation and any negative health effect.

Claims have been made about the following diseases and conditions; these claims are not supported by mainstream science, medicine or dentistry and include:

• altering immune function
• AIDS
• genetic damage
• Down’s Syndrome
• Alzheimer's disease
• producing allergic reaction (hypersensitivity)
• causing or contributing to heart disease
• inhibition of the activity of enzymes in humans
• neurological impact
• hip fracture
• lower birth rates
• harmful to kidneys.

Studies have been conducted looking at health differences between fluoridated and unfluoridated areas and have failed to show any associations between fluoridation and disease, except that oral health was much better in the communities with fluoridated water.

Go to information about water fluoridation and safety