Burdekin Shire Council unphased by push for mandatory fluoride
Having never fluoridated the regions water, local dentist say the people of the Burdekin are now paying the price
Townsville
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HAVING never fluoridated the regions water in the Burdekin, a dentist said locals were paying the price.
The Australian Medical Association Queensland issued a call for the State Government to mandate fluoride in all council water supplies.
Burdekin dentist Ramon Oar said fluoridated drinking water is a “no-brainer”.
“(For) the community and health benefits of fluoridated drinking water, it’s a no-brainer for me,” he said.
“It’s absolutely something that should be done.”
Burdekin Shire Council was joined by 19 other local government areas without fluoride in the water in 2013 when state laws were amended to give councils the choice on providing the mineral to drinking water.
Dr Oar said he regularly saw adverse affects of unfluoridated water regularly in his Oar and Horan practice in Ayr.
“The reason I support fluoridated water is that it protects your teeth,” he said.
“I see it all day long, there is decay in teeth that just doesn’t need to be there.
“Everyone drinks the town water — the low socio-economic population who can’t afford a check up, they’re still drinking the water and protecting their teeth.”
Burdekin Shire Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said the council does not plan to fluoridate the drinking water.
“Council understands there are mixed community views about the benefits of fluoridation,” she said.
“At this stage, council has no plans in place to add fluoride to the town water supply.”
AMA Queensland president Dr Dilip Dhupelia said councils without fluoridated water are refusing to accept the health benefits of doing so.
“Councils are seemingly unwilling to accept the extensive body of evidence proving the health benefits and safety of fluoride,” he said.
“Community water fluoridation is a cost-effective and equitable means of increasing exposure to the protective effects of fluoride.”
Originally published as Burdekin Shire Council unphased by push for mandatory fluoride
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