Written question asked by Nicholas Winterton (Conservative) on Monday, 7 July 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 July 2008. It was answered by Ann Keen (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 July 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Fluoride

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the levels of tooth decay in countries (a) that fluoridate and (b) do not fluoridate public water supplies for the purposes of benchmarking in the last three years.

Answer: Some 170 million people in the United States of America drink fluoridated water. Studies reported by the American Dental Association show that fluoridation of water reduces dental decay by over 50 per cent. Experience elsewhere shows that it is possible to achieve similarly low levels of dental disease in affluent areas with as many as 60 per cent. of 12-year-old children with no tooth decay, but the attraction of fluoridation is its potential for reducing inequalities in oral health.

Secondary information