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Dubai: Dubai is considering putting fluoride into its water supply as a way to lower tooth decay rate, which is the highest in the country, says a top health official in the emirate.
Dubai has the highest rate of tooth decay among children aged five, 12 and 15, according to the 2002 National Survey of the Oral Health of Children. Other emirates exhibited similarly high rates of tooth decay among children, blamed on high-sugar diet and improper brushing.
Qadi Saeed Al Murooshid, director-general of the Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms), told Gulf News they would revisit the issue of fluoridated water based on recommendations from the Federation Dentaire International (FDI).
"We will consider the issue. Any decisions will be based on scientific findings as an outcome from the FDI on fluoride and considerations on public health," he said.
He said the water in Dubai was not fluoridated due to some fears of side effects on health, adding that any decisions on fluoridated water would take time, to allow Dubai Municipality experts to conduct feasibility research. The fluoride level in the water is 0.02 mg per litre, according to the Ministry of Health, far below the recommended 1mg per litre.
Al Murooshid spoke to Gulf News on the sidelines of the recently-concluded FDI World Dental Conference.
Dental experts from GCC countries have affirmed their commitment to fluoride-usage during the conference, by fluoridating water, increasing access to fluoride toothpaste, providing fluoride varnishes and changing people's dietary and tooth-brushing habits. The method by which to deliver the fluoride lies with individual health authorities in the countries.
Dr Peter Cooney, chair of the FDI public health section, told Gulf News that the UAE should look into water fluoridation to solve its tooth decay woes.
"It is the simplest and fastest way to intervene and get the people the necessary protection while waiting for dental health programmes to take effect. It gets to people whether they brush or not, they get to wealthy people and the poor," he said.
He said if the UAE added fluoride to the water, it would decrease the tooth decay rate by 20 to 40 per cent. Some issues any country has to consider before putting fluoride in, however, included the level of naturally-occurring fluoride in the water, how often and whether people drink tap water, whether water plants can handle the fluoridation system and whether all residents are tapped into the water system instead of wells.
However, Dr Cooney did not foresee any of these issues with Dubai.
"If we have a large city with lots of water supply, like in Dubai, then I don't see any problems," he said.
Your comments
I dont want to have to wash my hands, shower, wash my veggies and fruit, and feed my pets water with fluoride just because some people don't brush their teeth. Please keep our water as natural as possible, we have more than enough chemicals in our body.
Omar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 00:03
When I was a child, flouride was introduced into the water in Zimbabwe. My sister developed a very disfiguring case of Dental Flourosis that became a source of embarrassment for her. Things like this are usually not mentioned to the public.
Katherine
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 03, 2007, 15:20
If people thought in the same vein as fluoride being a toxin, we probably wouldn't have chlorinated water and therefore suffered the ramifications of cholera and other water borne diseases.
Bill
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: November 03, 2007, 14:04
Authorities need to do some thorough investigation before pushing through with this plan because it may affect people's health.
Nasim
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 03, 2007, 11:37
There is nothing better than leaving the natural amount of fluoride in the water.
Hibo
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 03, 2007, 11:26
There is a lot of controversy about fluoride in the world as scientific research reveal that fluoride is a chemical toxin. There are studies showing that fluoride can induce genetic mutations. Probably a toothpaste with fluoride would be a better solution than drinking water with this chemical.
Andrew
Shanghai,China
Posted: November 03, 2007, 10:37
The effect on caries prevention is controversial. Fluoride is an acute toxin. It accumulates in the body and is supposed to cause cancer and other diseases. Reduce your avoidable risks of cancer!
Stephan
Hamburg,Germany
Posted: November 03, 2007, 10:29
I think it is not wise to put fluoride into tap water. There are many studies that prove fluoride can be harmful. Alzheimer's disease, for example, is reportedly linked to an overdose of fluoride.
Maria
Lund,Sweden
Posted: November 03, 2007, 04:24
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