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Kuranda GP joins campaign to reintroduce fluoride into Cairns’ water supply

The lifelong burdens of poor oral health have compelled a Far North GP to call for Cairns’ water supply to be fluoridated, arguing that the process will avoid “tragic” consequences for vulnerable residents.

Dr Steve Salleras is one of three doctors from the Cairns GP Group that will deliver a deputation to Cairns councillors on the importance of water fluoridation in the city's drinking water supply. Picture: Brendan Radke
Dr Steve Salleras is one of three doctors from the Cairns GP Group that will deliver a deputation to Cairns councillors on the importance of water fluoridation in the city's drinking water supply. Picture: Brendan Radke

The lifelong burdens of poor oral health have compelled a Far North GP to call for Cairns’ water supply to be fluoridated, arguing that the process will avoid “tragic” consequences for vulnerable residents.

Dr Steve Salleras is one of three GPs who will provide a deputation to Cairns Regional Council on Wednesday morning, urging councillors to consider the public health measure.

In 2012, then-Premier Campbell Newman gave councils the choice to opt out of mandatory fluoridation, with CRC removing the tooth-strengthening chemical from its water supply the following year.

But the Kuranda-based GP said an alarming increase in dental decay meant that it was time to revisit the decision.

“It is a simple, safe, cheap way of substantially improving people’s health and wellbeing,” Dr Salleras said.

“When you look inside someone’s mouth and they have dreadful teeth, that is tragic to see because you know that’s going to cause suffering.

“People don’t smile at you because they’re ashamed.”

Citing the Hippocratic Oath, Dr Salleras said reintroducing the naturally occurring mineral into the water supply stood to benefit thousands of residents while causing no harm to others.

“I’ve been a doctor for 33 years. I’ve done more than 100,000 consultations, I’ve seen thousands of people,” he said.

“If I thought it was a significant problem for people, I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole.

“It’s not fair for the people who don’t want fluoride in the water to cause the people who need it to not have access to it.”

When fluoride was first removed in 2013, the move saved ratepayers around $300,000 in chemicals, staffing, testing, electricity and infrastructure.

A member of the Cairns GP Group, Dr Salleras says poor oral health can have lifelong consequences with fluoridated water a key element in the fight against tooth decay. Picture: Brendan Radke
A member of the Cairns GP Group, Dr Salleras says poor oral health can have lifelong consequences with fluoridated water a key element in the fight against tooth decay. Picture: Brendan Radke

But Dr Salleras said the cost was negligible when compared to the dramatic increase in children receiving dental treatment under general anaesthetic in recent years.

“There’s no conspiracy, there’s no money in it and there’s no pharmaceutical company involved either,” he said.

“We have nothing to gain from this apart from the fact that we care for our patients.

“The council in this situation has an obligation to assist in a health issue where to not become involved is a massive decision which they would need to take substantial responsibility for.”

A CRC spokesman said: “Council does not comment on health matters as this is the responsibility of the state government.”

According to Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, 156 children under the age of 15 received dental treatment under general anaesthetic during 2023/24.

The figure is a 56 percent increase from just two years ago.

“To not add fluoride is a massive choice to cause suffering, distress and also an enormous burden on our society,” Dr Salleras said.

Originally published as Kuranda GP joins campaign to reintroduce fluoride into Cairns’ water supply

Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/cairns/kuranda-gp-joins-campaign-to-reintroduce-fluoride-into-cairns-water-supply/news-story/8d9b1fb9ab7bca27e3b2b08022a255e1