Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

Study Shows Benefits of Fluoride to Children

A recent study confirms that fluoridation reduces tooth decay in Logan-Beaudesert children, with a notable 19% drop in cases since the introduction of fluoridated water. This research, supported by the Australian Dental Association of Queensland (ADAQ), was led by Emeritus Professor Kim Seow and Professor Laurence Walsh from the University of Queensland School of Dentistry. The three-year study involved 457 children aged four to nine.

Professor Walsh highlighted, “Prior to the introduction of fluoridation in 2008, six-year-old children in the Logan-Beaudesert region had a tooth decay rate two-and-a-half times the national average.” At that time, only five percent of Queensland children had access to fluoridated water. Today, that figure has risen to 80 percent, resulting in a significant reduction in tooth decay and supporting the benefits of local fluoridation initiatives.

Published in the journal of Caries Research, the UQ study conducted with Queensland Health also showed a remarkable 54 percent decrease in the relative risk of decayed, missing, or filled teeth. Dr Ralph Kelsey, President of ADA Queensland, noted a 26 percent reduction in decay observed on dental X-rays for the most vulnerable molar surfaces.

Dr Kelsey remarked, “This positive scientific report confirms what dentists see every day. I trust this research will help inform local councils in Queensland still considering the benefits of fluoridation.”

Besides water fluoridation, the UQ research group and Tooronga Dentistry’s community programs are exploring additional oral health interventions. Targeted telephone campaigns across the Logan-Beaudesert region have also shown encouraging improvements in children’s dental health.

For more information about children’s dental health services, please visit Tooronga Dentistry’s Children’s Dentistry page.

Water Fluoridation: Proven Protection for Dental Health in Glen Iris

Hailed as one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, water fluoridation has played a major role in reducing dental decay across communities. Introduced into US water supplies in 1945 and in Australia at Beaconsfield, Tasmania in 1953, fluoridation has since provided consistent protection to millions of people, preventing cavities and improving overall oral health.

The Debate and the Rise of Antifluoride Movements

Despite decades of evidence supporting its safety and benefits, antifluoride groups have managed to influence some local councils to remove fluoride from water supplies, particularly in parts of Queensland, and are now targeting Western Australia.

These groups often promote unsupported claims suggesting links between fluoride and various health problems, including lower IQ levels. Their campaigns gained momentum after state governments handed over fluoridation decisions to local councils—a move the Australian Dental Association (ADA) continues to criticize as misguided. The ADA maintains that fluoridation is a national public health measure, not a local political issue, and that removing fluoride only places communities at higher risk of dental decay.

Research Reinforces Fluoride’s Effectiveness

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recently released findings from a study led by researchers at the University of Sydney, confirming once again the clear benefits of fluoridated water. The study found significant reductions in tooth decay among children in fluoridated areas, both in baby and permanent teeth. It also debunked popular myths suggesting fluoride negatively affects cognitive function or causes systemic health conditions. The ADA had described the situation as “unacceptable,” saying that it is alarming to see councils ignore overwhelming scientific evidence and recommendations from the ADA, the World Health Organization, and the Australian Medical Association.

Supporting Evidence from Western Australia

The Government of Western Australia Department of Health released its independent study titled Dental Health Outcomes of Children Residing in Fluoridated and Non-Fluoridated Areas of Western Australia. The findings support those of the NHMRC, showing that children in fluoridated regions had lower rates of decay compared to those in non-fluoridated areas. This solid evidence further strengthens the case for maintaining and expanding water fluoridation programs across the country.

The ADA’s Recommendation

The Australian Dental Association strongly recommends that fluoride be added to all Australian community water supplies without exception. Fluoride remains one of the most effective, equitable, and safe methods for improving oral health and preventing tooth decay across all age groups.

Regular dental checkups combined with fluoridated water and good hygiene habits form the foundation of preventive dental care for both children and adults.