scholarly journals Association Between Community Water Fluoridation and Severe Dental Caries Experience in 4-Year-Old New Zealand Children

2020 ◽  
Vol 174 (10) ◽  
pp. 969
Author(s):  
Philip J. Schluter ◽  
Matthew Hobbs ◽  
Helen Atkins ◽  
Barry Mattingley ◽  
Martin Lee
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Caries Experience ◽  
Water Fluoridation ◽  
Community Water ◽  
Community Water Fluoridation

Water fluoridation: current challenges

2020 ◽  
pp. archdischild-2019-318545
Author(s):  
John Furness ◽  
Sam J Oddie ◽  
Simon Hearnshaw
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Water Fluoridation ◽  
Public Health Measure ◽  
Important Public Health ◽  
Community Water ◽  
Health Measure ◽  
Community Water Fluoridation ◽  
And Child Health ◽  
Do So

Dental extraction for caries is the most common reason for children aged 6–10 years to be admitted to hospital. Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) is safe and effective at reducing dental caries. It is most effective where there is more deprivation. However, many deprived areas do not have CWF despite Public Health England recommending it. Those who lobby against fluoridation do so using emotionally charged language and misinformation. We discuss the benefits of fluoridation and the specious arguments used against this important public health measure. The National CWF Network is led by dentists and promotes CWF. COVID-19 has led to the suspension of routine dentistry, renewing the urgency of implementation of CWF. Professional bodies such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health are urged to give their support.

scholarly journals Seeking community water fluoridation information on state health department websites

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251139
Author(s):  
Catherine Maybury ◽  
Matt Jacob ◽  
Jessica M. Flanders ◽  
Alice M. Horowitz
Keyword(s):  
Dental Caries ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Health Centers ◽  
State Health ◽  
Plain Language ◽  
Water Fluoridation ◽  
Literacy Environment ◽  
Community Water ◽  
Community Water Fluoridation

Community water fluoridation (CWF) is the most effective and equitable approach to preventing dental caries (tooth decay). Yet millions of Americans, especially those at highest risk of caries, do not know what CWF is or its preventive benefits. State health departments are responsible for educating their respective populations. Thus, this study assessed health department websites (N = 50) to determine if CWF content existed, the ease of finding it, and if it was written in plain language and for a consumer audience. We used the web component of the HLE2: The Health Literacy Environment of Hospitals and Health Centers (HLE2) to assess how easy or difficult it was to the navigate a website and find information. Forty-one websites had CWF information; 37 states had content written for a consumer audience. HLE2 scores ranged from 0 to 54 points (60 possible). Only five states had websites with a HLE2 score of 50 or higher. SHDs with higher HLE2 scores were easy to navigate and their content was written for a consumer audience. Study findings suggest most SHDs should improve their website’s CWF content and its accessibility to better promote the role of fluoridated water in preventing dental caries.

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