Water fluoridation, question and answer sheet

This resource provides detailed information about fluoride and the Victorian government's policy to extend water fluoridation throughout Victoria.

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)