Is water fluoridation of benefit? What about bottled water?
Water fluoridation is safe, and is recommended by the World Health Organisation. It is associated with a substantial reduction in the prevalence of decay in the community, with studies showing a 20-40% reduction. The target fluoride concentration in water supplies in Australia is 0.7-1.0ppm. Recently there has been a large increase in the consumption of bottled water. A study published in the Australian Dental Journal tested the top 10 brands of bottled water. Most did not provide information on fluoride content. All that were tested had negligible fluoride (<0.08ppm), which raises the concern that regular consumption of bottled water may reduce the community benefits gained from water fluoridation. People who choose to drink bottled water for various reasons such as cleanliness, health, taste, etc. may be at higher risk for dental decay. For this reason it is important to visit the dentist regularly for examination and review of preventive therapy.
