Fluoridation

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28542, 22 March 1958, Page 12

Fluoridation

The decision of the Wellington City Council to fluoridate its municipal water supply is welcome progress towards the introduction of a valuable dental health measure. Wellington is not the first urban community to adopt the finding of the Royal Commission, but it is the largest. Its example will have greater influence on the other large centres, and on smaller ones, too. Invercargill and Lower Hutt have decided on fluoridation, New Plymouth has given its approval in principle, and Masterton has approved of fluoridation but asked for a Government subsidy. The request for State help has been discussed by the Wellington City Council and other local authorities. Though requests for subsidies from taxpayers as a whole to relieve ratepayers of costs for local amenities they can well afford should generally be regarded with reserve, a good case can be made for State help in this case. By reducing the incidence of dental disease, the addition of fluoride to public water supplies will reduce the demands made on the school dental service, and therefore its cost. The amount of this saving pan be readily estimated with rough accuracy, and there seems no reason why it should not be passed on to the local authorities responsible. The towns that have now decided on fluoridation are, with the exception of Invercargill,

among those where the water supply is most deficient in natural fluoride. The Invercargill supply contains .3 parts a million of fluoride compared with the desirable proportion of one part a million. The water at New Plymouth, Lower Hutt, and Masterton has only .05 parts a million, and the water at Wellington ‘.l part a million. Christchurch, with .15 parts a million, is little better off.

Another minor but not insignificant advance was made by the Riccarton Borough Council, when it renounced the engineering advice it had previously been given that the fluoridation of its water supply was virtually impossible. The council now has an open mind, which means that it can hardly refrain from accepting the guidance of the Royal Commission, the Health Department, and the advisory committees, local and national. Indeed, the Mayor (Mr E. J. Bradshaw) said as much in the discussion leading up to the council’s decision to seek further information. The readiness of Riccarton councillors to take good advice is a hopeful sign of a wider adoption of this reform. Those concerned with the toll of dental disease in New Zealand hase shown patience in answering the doubts and questions of the general public. This is beginning to show a return, which will ultimately be seen in sounder teeth among young New Zealanders.