Current legislation means that more than 60 health authorities are being prevented from fluoridating water supplies as water companies have the power of veto over implementation. In areas where there is water fluoridation, decay is generally halved, according to the alliance. But in Britain's poorest non-fluoridated communities children as young as two are suffering from tooth decay. Tooth extraction under general anaesthetic also carries the risk associated with any general anaesthetic. Tooth decay is preventable, and in areas where decay rates are high, water fluoridation would cut disease levels in half.
Opinion polls show strong public support for the measure.
Decay rates fallen dramatically The level of decay in children's teeth has fallen dramatically in the last 25 years. Fluoride exists naturally in all water supplies. In some places, such as Hartlepool, fluoride occurs naturally at the optimum level of one part of fluoride per million parts of water. In most places, where the fluoride concentration is substantially below the optimum level, it can be artificially topped up. The National Alliance for Equity in Dental Health consists of 39 national medical, dental and voluntary organisations, including the British Medical Association, the British Dental Association and the Health Education Authority.