Water fluoridation, question and answer sheet

This resource provides detailed information about fluoride and addresses the most commonly asked questions about water fluoridation.

1. Water fluoridation in Australia (292kb, pdf)

• 1.1 What parts of Australia have water fluoridation?
• 1.2 Is my drinking water fluoridated?
• 1.3 Is water fluoridation part of Australia’s National Oral Health Plan?
• 1.4 What is Victorian government policy on water fluoridation?

2. Dental decay (292kb, pdf)

• 2.1 What is dental decay?
• 2.2 What does dental decay look like?
• 2.3 How is dental decay measured?
• 2.4 Is dental decay really that serious?
• 2.5 Are oral health and general health related?
• 2.6 Are there other ways to protect teeth?
• 2.7 Are fluoride tablets recommended by dental professionals?

3. Technical information (292kb, pdf)

• 3.1 What is fluoride?
• 3.2 Does fluoride have other uses?
• 3.3 Does fluoride come from the fertilizer industry?
• 3.4 What type of fluoride is added to community water supplies?
• 3.5 What is the optimal fluoride level in water fluoridation programs?
• 3.6 Must fluoride added to water be a registered medicine?
• 3.7 How does fluoride help prevent dental decay?
• 3.8 Does fluoride affect the taste of water?
• 3.9 Do home water filters remove fluoride from water?
• 3.10 How are fluoride levels in drinking water monitored?
• 3.11 Do fluoride compounds contain impurities?

4. Water fluoridation research (292kb, pdf)

• 4.1 Has water fluoridation been properly researched?
• 4.2 Is all research the same?
• 4.3 What is the best scientific evidence?
• 4.4 Does the Victorian Department of Human Services have the latest research on water fluoridation?
• 4.5 What research supports the benefit of water fluoridation in both children and adults?

5. Health concerns (292kb, pdf)

• 5.1 Are there any health concerns associated with water fluoridation?
• 5.2 Dental fluorosis
• 5.3 Allergy
• 5.4 Skeletal fluorosis
• 5.5 Osteoporosis, arthritis and fractures
• 5.6 Cancer
• 5.7 Thyroid disease
• 5.8 Iodine deficiency
• 5.9 Brain function
• 5.10 Kidney disease
• 5.11 Can fluoride accumulate in the body after consumption?
• 5.12 Can you consume too much fluoride from optimally fluoridated water?
• 5.13 Is it safe to reconstitute infant formula with fluoridated water?
• 5.14 Is it safe to drink fluoridated water while pregnant or breast feeding?

6. Fluoride and the environment (292kb, pdf)

• 6.1 Does water fluoridation pollute the environment?
• 6.2 Are air-borne fluoride emissions considered in water fluoridation policy?

7. Fluoride around the world (292kb, pdf)

• 7.1 What other countries fluoridate drinking water?
• 7.2 Does the United States fluoridate drinking water?
• 7.3 Does the United Kingdom fluoridate drinking water?
• 7.4 What other kinds of fluoridation schemes exist?
• 7.5 Has water fluoridation been banned in Europe?
• 7.6 Why was water fluoridation stopped in Basle, Switzerland?

8. Ethics (292kb, pdf)

• 8.1 Why doesn’t the Department of Human Services participate in debates about water fluoridation?
• 8.2 Why don’t the public get to vote on water fluoridation?
• 8.3 Shouldn’t water fluoridation be an individual choice?
• 8.4 Is water fluoridation mass medication?
• 8.5 Is water fluoridation unconstitutional?
• 8.6 Is water fluoridation consistent with the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities?
• 8.7 Is water fluoridation protected by law?
• 8.8 Is water fluoridation ethical?

9. Costs (292kb, pdf)

• 9.1 Is water fluoridation cost effective?
• 9.2 Is water fluoridation done just to save money on dental treatment, without any consideration for the wellbeing of people?
• 9.3 Why isn’t money directed toward addressing causes of poor dental health?
• 9.4 If water fluoridation is effective, why are we still training so many dentists?

Water fluoridation - question and answer sheet (292kb, pdf)