By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
Detailed plans have outlined how fluoride will be added to the city and county’s water supply to improve dental health – but it could take up to 10 years.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral which strengthens the outer surface of teeth, making them more resistant to decay.
It is added to dental products including many toothpastes, but can also be put into tap water so it reaches whole populations.
The World Health Organisation recommends water fluoridation as an “effective and safe public health intervention”.
The idea of adding it to tap water across Notts will be discussed at the County Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on December 13.
The City Council has also supported a local water fluoridation scheme.
Some areas of Nottinghamshire, including Mansfield, Bassetlaw, Ashfield and some parts of Newark and Sherwood, already have fluoride in their tap water, and have done since the 1970s.
A public consultation would need to be carried out in order to expand it further.
The County Council says phase one of the plan includes sending a letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to request the extension of water fluoridation in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
A working group will also be set up to explore the expansion of the scheme.
Phase two of the plan, which “may take three to ten years to fully implement”, includes expanding water fluoridation schemes locally, led by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Phase two includes feasibility studies, public consultation, engineering plans and if successful, building infrastructure.
Council documents stated: “Currently, the areas in the county that are fluoridated are those of greatest deprivation.
“However, there are pockets of deprivation within the remaining districts and all residents are likely to have some benefit from water fluoridation. There are no children in Nottingham city currently benefiting from water fluoridation.
“Within the County, in 2021/22, the highest prevalence of tooth decay experienced in five-year-olds was identified in Newark and Sherwood (23.5 per cent), an area where the majority of water is not fluoridated.”
But statistics show the average number of teeth affected by dental decay amongst five-year-olds in Nottingham was 1.3 teeth, which is significantly higher than the England average of 0.8 teeth.
Opponents of flouridation have raised concerns over dental fluorosis – a brown discolouration which can appear on a child’s teeth if they are exposed to too much flouride while still developing.
The NHS says it is “uncommon” in the UK for fluorosis to be severe enough to seriously affect the appearance of teeth.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson previously said: “Water fluoridation is a safe and effective measure to help improve our nation’s oral health, tackle disparities and reduce cavities and tooth extractions among children.
“We want more of the country to benefit from water fluoridation and recently transferred responsibilities for fluoridation schemes from Local Authorities to central government, making it simper to expand schemes, subject to public consultation.”
