Choose the tap, not the bottle, say dental experts
Children who drink bottled water rather than fluoridated tap water may miss out on the levels of fluoride they need to protect their teeth from dental decay, according to new research by Newcastle University.
Researchers in Newcastle, where tap water has fluoride added to it, tested the fluoride content of 25 popular brands of bottled water and assessed their effect on children. They found that the bottled waters tested were unlikely to contain enough fluoride to protect children's teeth.
The researchers, from the School of Dental Sciences, considered the fluoride intake of children who drank and had their food cooked in bottled water with children who relied on fluoridated tap water. The fluoride intake of children who drank bottled water was between 26 per cent and 48 per cent less compared to those drinking the tap water.
The study, published in the British Dental Journal (BDJ), also found that labelling on bottles where fluoride content was specified was inaccurate in 75 per cent of the brands tested.
The research comes at a time when bottled waters are rising in popularity in the UK: the study cites an increase in consumption from 800 million litres in 1995 to 1.39 billion litres in 2000 and predicts a further 70 per cent increase in consumption of bottled waters over the next five years.
Professor Liz Kay, Scientific Advisor to the BDA, said:
"Fluoride protects teeth from decay and the extractions that decay can cause. Children drinking fluoridated water and practising a good tooth brushing regime significantly improve their chance of enjoying good health and avoiding unnecessary and painful dental work."
Targeted fluoridation of tap water, where communities wish the measure to be introduced, is the subject of clause 58 of the Water Bill. MPs will vote on whether to allow consumers the choice of having their tap water fluoridated, where it isn't already, on Monday 10 November. The British Dental Association (BDA) is in favour of targeted water fluoridation.
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Author Notes:
Holly Rebekah contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.water-purification-filters.com.
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