{"id":342781,"date":"2024-01-22T11:56:15","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T01:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=342781"},"modified":"2024-01-22T12:00:41","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T02:00:41","slug":"fluoride-access-linked-to-poverty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2024\/01\/22\/fluoride-access-linked-to-poverty\/","title":{"rendered":"Fluoride Access Linked To Poverty"},"content":{"rendered":"
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University of Queensland biostatistician Christopher Sexton (Photo: UQ)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

January 22, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lower socio-economic areas in Queensland are at higher risk of dental disease due to a lack of fluoridated water, according to a new report.<\/p>\n

University of Queensland biostatistician Christopher Sexton led a team that investigated the link between geographical areas\u2019 socio-economic status and access to fluoridated water.<\/p>\n

The results were published in the Medical Journal of Australia<\/a><\/strong> in December.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe estimated almost 80 per cent of people in Queensland have access to fluoridated water, mostly thanks to councils in the south-east in areas of higher socio-economic status,\u201d Mr Sexton said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut areas of socio-economic disadvantage in the State were less likely to have access to fluoridated water and its benefits for oral health.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means those people have an avoidable greater risk of poor oral health outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The researchers, from UQ\u2019s School of Dentistry, said the current model for implementing water fluoridation across Queensland could be improved.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A rollout of fluoridation across the State’s water treatment plants was begun by Premier Anna Bligh’s ALP government in 2008, despite loud protests from anti-fluoride groups.<\/p>\n

At the time, the government said fluoridation equated to between 0.6 and 0.9 parts of fluoride per million parts of water, roughly one drop in a bathtub.<\/p>\n

Then-South Burnett Mayor David Carter criticised the move, saying the State Government had let Council take the heat from ratepayers.<\/p>\n

When Campbell Newman’s LNP government was elected in 2012, the decision whether to add fluoride to local supplies was transferred to councils.<\/p>\n

The South Burnett stopped adding fluoride to the region\u2019s water supply schemes soon afterwards, in January 2013.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the time, then-Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said the move was a cost-saving measure.<\/p>\n

More than $2 million had been spent installing fluoridation plants when it was made compulsory, but Council then had to pay ongoing costs for maintenance and supplies.<\/p>\n

Mayor Kratzmann said the decision to axe fluoridation was expected to save the Council between $170,000 and $200,000 a year, about 20 per cent of its water processing costs at that time.<\/p>\n

Co-author of the latest report, Professor Loc Do, said Queensland had the lowest access to fluoridated water in Australia, despite strong evidence of its benefits.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cResearch has found water fluoridation reduces the prevalence of decayed, missing and filled teeth in Australian children by up to 42 per cent,\u201d Prof Do said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a cost-effective and safe way to help reduce rates of dental disease and helps to improve quality of life.”<\/p>\n

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