BFS

The British Fluoridation Society appoints new Council Member

The British Fluoridation Society (BFS) is pleased to announce Aiman Tahir is joining its Council.

Aiman graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2020. She completed her foundation training and is currently working in community dentistry as a Dental Core Trainee in the West Midlands.

Miss Tahir is a member of her Local Dental Committee (LDC) in the West Midlands and also devotes her time to mentoring prospective and current dental students, alongside being an ambassador for the Mentors4Dentists network.

Describing her appointment to the BFS Council, Miss Tahir said: “We know that dental caries disproportionately affects those from a lower socioeconomic background.

“If through a simple measure like water fluoridation, we are able to reduce the inequality in dental health, then it should be a priority for everyone.  I have been fortunate to practise in a fluoridated area and see the benefits of water fluoridation first hand.

“The recent support from the Chief Medical Officers is positive and will hopefully be reflected in the Health and Care Bill. I am looking forward to joining the BFS Committee and playing an active role in advocating water fluoridation. It is important that we continue to engage students and newly qualified dentists in this effort.”

Aiman Tahir’s appointment follows Philip Martin BDS MDPH, who joined the BFS Executive Committee in August.

Welcoming Miss Tahir, Dr Barry Cockcroft CBE and BFS chair, said: “It’s crucially important for us to connect with young professionals joining the dentistry community and I’m delighted to welcome Aiman on behalf of the BFS Executive Committee.

“She joins us at an important time. The Society is gearing up to support the Government’s increased focus on getting new fluoridation schemes over the line in the UK, which means we need the dental profession to show its collective support, and today’s generation of new dentists can help by supporting the BFS and championing community water fluoridation in our local communities.”

For more information on the BFS, go to: https://bfsweb.org/.

BFS welcomes UK Chief Medical Officers’ statement on Water Fluoridation

The British Fluoridation Society (BFS) has welcomed the UK Chief Medical Officers’ (CMOs) statement confirming that water fluoridation is an effective public health intervention for reducing the prevalence of tooth decay and improving oral health inequalities across the UK.

Dr Barry Cockcroft CBE, BFS chair, said: “We welcome today’s important statement. It confirms that water fluoridation schemes are safe and effective and that they have a positive impact on tackling completely avoidable oral health inequalities in children and adults across the UK.

We have been campaigning on this issue for many years and it is great to see it back on the table. Community water fluoridation schemes positively benefit all ages, both children and the increasing number of older people retaining their teeth into later life.

The ability to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce cavities with the simple addition of fluoride to water is a powerful and cost effective tool, along with other preventive measures.”

Read the full CMO statement here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-fluoridation-statement-from-the-uk-chief-medical-officers/statement-on-water-fluoridation-from-the-uk-chief-medical-officers

For more information on the BFS, go to: https://bfsweb.org/.

The British Fluoridation Society appoints new Committee Member

The British Fluoridation Society (BFS) is pleased to announce Philip Martin BDS MDPH is joining its Executive Committee.

Dr Martin is a dental surgeon with more 40 years’ experience. He owns and operates several dental practices in Leicester after acquiring his first practice in 1990.

He qualified as a general dental practitioner at the University of Liverpool and has mentored many young graduates through their first year in dentistry as a foundation dentist (FD) trainer. In addition to working in general dental practice, Dr Martin has been a Clinical Advisor to the Health Service Ombudsman since 2012.

An active member of British Dental Association (BDA), Mr Martin has served as both president and chair of the East Midland branch. He is a long standing member of Leicestershire Local Dental Committee (LDC), having previously served as chair, and represented both Leicestershire and Northampton on the General Dental Practice Committee of the BDA for two terms.

Dr Martin has also undertaken a part-time role as a clinical assistant in orthodontics to complete a Masters in Dental Public Health.

Welcoming Dr Martin, Dr Barry Cockcroft CBE and BFS chair, said: “This is an exciting time to be joining the BFS Executive Committee. I am delighted to welcome Philip to the team. He brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the organisation.

“The White Paper announced earlier this year, and the subsequent Health Bill currently in Parliament, has the potential to lead the way for new legislation that will aid the introduction of much-needed water fluoridation schemes that will help us to tackle avoidable dental health inequalities in the UK.”

Describing his appointment to the BFS, Dr Martin said: “I very much look forward to working with all my Committee colleagues to advance the work of the BFS. In 2013, non-fluoridated Leicester was the worst place in England for dental decay in 5-year-olds, a situation which has improved only slightly.

“Consequently, I am very aware of the damage dental caries cause to our children. Community water fluoridation is the most effective way to reduce this burden of suffering and improving the oral health of our population.”

For more information on the BFS, go to: https://bfsweb.org/.

New study brings hope of further decline in dental decay in UK children of the future

The role of water fluoridation in strengthening children’s primary teeth has been given further affirmation by an important new Canadian study1. A 14-year comparison of schoolchildren aged around seven found that children in fluoridated Edmonton had fewer cavities and thus healthier teeth than in non-fluoridated Calgary.

Due to its scale and its precision, the research is important on many levels, not least because it showcases what happens when water fluoridation is stopped. In 2011 the municipal government in Calgary decided to discontinue fluoridating the water supply.  At the start of the study in 2004, schoolchildren aged 7-8 in Calgary had fewer cavities than in Edmonton. Now, 65% of Calgary children – nearly two out of every three – have cavities and the number is rising. Meanwhile, compared with 14 years ago, the dental cavity rate for Edmonton children is virtually the same.

In the UK, where the Government has announced it is planning to resume control of water fluoridation schemes2, the findings are a valuable predictor of potential oral health improvements in future generations of  0-7s. Public consultations are a mandatory precursor of any water fluoridation scheme and BFS believes that the findings from Canada, published in the latest Community Dental Oral Epidemiology, will explain powerfully and graphically the benefits of water fluoridation to the health of children.

The research team additionally looked for evidence of fluorosis, a condition linked to fluoride consumption, which causes a change in the appearance of tooth enamel. While they found that children in fluoridated areas had signs of fluorosis, as would be expected, in 99% of cases it was mild. Additionally, in questionnaires which formed part of the study, parents’ reports of the general health of their child’s mouth were very similar in Calgary and Edmonton, with around half of parents in both cities rating their child’s mouth health as excellent or very good.  The benefits of water fluoridation at the optimum level far outweigh any possible disadvantage, of which fluorosis is the most common and likely.

BFS Chair Dr Barry Cockcroft commented: “We welcome the findings of this carefully calibrated study by McLaren et al which helps build on the existing body of research.  By compiling the many authoritative studies from around the world, such as this latest work from Canada,  we see a reassuring picture of the positive impact of water fluoridation on improving children’s oral health and reducing inequalities.”

“Let us not forget that water fluoridation positively benefits all ages and with the number of people living into older age, the ability to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce cavities with the simple addition of fluoride to water is a powerful and cost effective tool, along with other preventive measures, of course.”

In the UK, around one tenth of people have benefited from water fluoridation since the introduction of schemes from the 1960s. These are in the West Midlands, Bedfordshire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Tyneside, Northumbria, Durham, Humberside, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.  A map is available on our website3. There are also a few areas which benefit from naturally fluoridated water supplies.

By and large, all the UK’s schemes have remained operational, with the exception of Cumbria where it was halted temporarily.  A study4 is currently underway to examine how children’s teeth were impacted when water fluoridation was stopped and restarted due to maintenance work by the water authority. The Catfish study is due for publication later this year.

References:

  1. McLaren L, Patterson SK, Faris P, et al. Fluoridation cessation and children’s dental caries: A 7-year follow-up evaluation of Grade 2 schoolchildren in Calgary and Edmonton, Canada. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2021;00:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/ cdoe.12685
  2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-and-care-bill-factsheets/health-and-care-bill-water-fluoridation
  3. https://bfsweb.org/extent/
  4. https://www.catfish-study.org

BFS: Growing positivity for water fluoridation in Twittersphere

Positivity on the topic of water fluoridation is growing on Twitter where the number of supporters has grown from nil to 19% in five years. By contrast, Facebook is a platform where opposition to water fluoridation has remained constant.

These are among the conclusions drawn from a paper which compares identical studies analysing social media accounts on Twitter and Facebook. Carried out five years apart, in 2015 and 2021, the studies looked at the public’s perception of water fluoridation as expressed on social media. Accounts were divided into three groups, supportive, ante or neutral to water fluoridation.

It’s a topic which invokes strong feelings, with libertarians opposing the view that fluoride should be added to drinking water supplies alongside other chemicals that prevent disease, such as chlorine, which protects from cholera and typhoid. This is counter to the view of most healthcare organisations, especially dental, which support all measures designed to improve health through universal measures.

BFS member Rebecca Linney undertook the 2015 study as part of her dental degree to understand how social media was being used by campaigners. She was fascinated by the topic because she comes from Liverpool where the water is not fluoridated but undertook her dental degree in fluoridated Birmingham.

In March of this year she repeated the study to test whether there had been a change in perceptions. A key finding of her comparison is that today, 19% of Twitter accounts featuring water fluoridation support the public health measure whereas in 2015 there were no pro water fluoridation accounts at all.

Dr Linney’s other key findings are:

  • Facebook continues to be the platform where there is most negativity around water fluoridation
  • The number of anti water fluoridation pages on Facebook has increased but the number of anti water fluoridation groups has decreased
  • There are more pro-fluoridation events on Facebook
  • Today there are fewer Twitter accounts which could be described as uncategorised or neutral in relation to water fluoridation

Dr Linney said: ”I was particularly interested to see that there are more events supporting water fluoridation listed on Facebook, indicative of an upsurge of commitment to promoting water fluoridation.

“I can also see that there is now more support on Twitter thanks to the British Fluoridation Society, Public Health England, the Oral Health Foundation and many more organisations using their accounts to post informative statements and links.”

Barry Cockcroft, Chairman of BFS, commented: “This paper is really useful in understanding how important it is to continue to communicate clear and scientific statements about water fluoridation. The fact is, unless we keep active on social media, opponents will fill that vacuum. This is a most valuable piece of work.“

Barry Cockcroft named interim Chair of the British Fluoridation Society

The current Chairman of the British Fluoridation Society (BFS), Steve Bedser, is standing down after leading the organisation for five years. Dr Barry Cockcroft CBE, who was elected to the BFS Executive in 2020, has agreed to take over from Steve in an interim capacity until a formal election can take place at the BFS AGM later this year.

Steve’s contribution to the BFS has been significant. When the Health and Social Care Act of 2012 came into being, public health became the responsibility of local authorities. Steve, who was on Birmingham City Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board at the time, understood the role of water fluoridation in reducing oral health inequalities. Birmingham had been the first City in the UK to have its water supply fluoridated and inspired the formation of the BFS with its mission to drive up targeted water fluoridation schemes across the UK. Steve wanted to be part of that work and joined BFS before being elected as Chair soon afterwards.

The White Paper announced in February of this year, paving the way for new legislation, signalled that the Government plans to take back control of water fluoridation schemes.

Dr Cockcroft, the former Chief Dental Officer for England, who joined BFS in 2006, commented: “The BFS is delighted the Government has accepted that targeted water fluoridation is the most cost effective way to reduce the unacceptable inequalities in oral health and by the unequivocal support of Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock.

“We will now be working to support the Government when it proposes new schemes and will also be watching the passage of legislation through the Parliamentary process to ensure that it delivers what we all want. I am delighted to be taking on the Chairman’s role at this critical time.”

After paying tribute to Steve Bedser for his work on behalf of BFS, Dr Cockcroft added, “No announcement at this time would be complete without mentioning the late Mike Lennon, who passed away on April 9. As Chairman of BFS for 20 years he did so much to make the Society an internationally respected authority on water fluoridation. Plans are being developed to celebrate his achievements. I am stepping into very big shoes.”

Barriers to water fluoridation to be demolished in radical NHS reforms

Responsibility for water fluoridation is due to be returned into the control of central Government according to a leaked document setting out reforms to the National Health Service. The news is welcomed by the British Fluoridation Society and the many dentists, public health officials and social justice campaigners who support its work.

For some time, it’s been clear that water fluoridation is supported in Westminster. The hope of campaigning organisations like BFS was that NHS England would provide the funding that is essential to implement water fluoridation schemes.

But our hopes have been surpassed. The planned reforms go much further: by undoing the 2012 Health and Social Care Act, which devolved control of water fluoridation to local authorities, the Government is breaking down numerous barriers. It is taking back responsibility for funding and implementing water fluoridation and will be in a position to  drive forward and implement schemes.

Some 6m people in the UK benefit from a fluoridated water supply and in those areas, oral health is better than in neighbouring non-fluoridated areas. Research shows that the greater the deprivation, the greater the benefit that water fluoridation bestows.

Currently, it is local authorities that must fund the costs of water fluoridation, negotiate with water companies and carry out public consultations. While there is a commitment to improve oral health, especially in children, in many areas, the cost and work involved is too high when there are many competing demands and budgets are limited. There have been no new schemes since the 1980s and plans to extend schemes have repeatedly stalled.

The proposals in the White Paper are set to make a radical difference. The plans will require legislation with implementation of reforms due to start in 2022. The Government has committed to engaging with the devolved administrations on the White Paper. BFS hopes that all areas of the UK where children’s oral health needs are highest will be able to benefit from water fluoridation, contributing to improved health and reduced inequality. 

 The leaked White Paper has the working  title ‘Integration and Innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all’ and is due to be made public this month.

New preventive approach to dental decision-making welcomed

A new approach to oral health in which prevention of dental disease is central to policy and decision-making is necessary according to Minister of Health Jo Churchill. Her words are warmly welcomed by the British Fluoridation Society. Speaking in the House of Commons in a debate on dentistry (1) (January 14th) she said she was “extremely sympathetic” to a transformation of dentistry to benefit children’s health and reduce inequalities.

She continued: “I wish to see a change in the way we approach dentistry and oral health. I have asked officials and NHS England (NHSE) to ensure that high-quality preventive work is at the forefront of future provision and that a transformation in commissioning takes place.”

On the same day as the House of Commons debate, an article (2) went live in an American publication, Salon, which addressed the issue of water fluoridation and health equality. The columnist, Matthew Rozsa began his piece by saying: ”Sorry conspiracy theorists, fluoride helps your teeth and has no ill cognitive effects, study after study shows.” The title of his piece was: ‘Fluoridated water isn’t just good for teeth it can lead to higher incomes too.’

Reducing health inequalities has become a political priority in the UK, as reflected by Jo Churchill’s House of Commons statement. But water fluoridation is among the health-promoting issues, such as vaccinations, opposed by small but vocal groups in both the UK and USA. 

One area where water fluoridation is badly needed is Hull where it has been under consideration for some years. Elizabeth O’Sullivan, a Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry in Hull, is among the many dentists who support water fluoridation. She said: “So much work has been done to educate families in oral health through a variety of initiatives but we  still we have one of the highest caries rates for 5 year olds in the UK, and up to 1000 children waiting for a general anaesthetic (GA) assessment for dental extractions.”

“Targeted community water fluoridation is the best way to reach children who have most to gain from a measure which prevents dental decay. If Jo Churchill is willing to push this forward then it can only be a good thing.” 

Former Health Minister Alan Johnson, also former MP for Hull West and Hessle, now a patron of the British Fluoridation Society said: “No public health issue has attracted more weird conspiracy theories or faced so many false accusations than fluoridation – possibly the most beneficial public health development of the past century.”

Alan continued: “Everywhere the level of fluoride in the water supply has been increased to optimal level, including in Britain since the 60s, tooth decay and extractions have reduced dramatically with absolutely no adverse effects. It’s time for politicians to begin extending the fluoridation of our water supply.”

References: 

1)  https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-01-14/debates/15169201-A026-433C-9105-D5007E11CF88/Covid-19DentalServices

2) https://www.salon.com/2021/01/14/fluoridated-water-isnt-just-good-for-teeth–it-can-lead-to-higher-incomes-too/

British Fluoridation Society transforms website into ‘information hub’

The British Fluoridation Society has updated its website – https://bfsweb.org/ – so that it is an accessible and richly populated information hub. Visitors to the website are encouraged to take out free associate membership, a category designed to help build and broaden understanding of this valuable public health measure.

BFS, which was established more than 50 years ago, has always enjoyed the support of doctors, dentists and social justice campaigners. Now, anyone who wants to be kept informed of developments in the field of community water fluoridation (CWF), whether relating to research, international collaborations, possible schemes or the work of the BFS itself, can show their support by joining the Society.

Ray Lowry, Secretary of BFS, said: “We are keen to convert followers into members, so that we are a clearly defined membership organisation, aligned with other groups whether in healthcare, politics or social justice organisations. Having a clearly identifiable support group will help progress the cause of community water fluoridation.”

He added: “It’s never been so important to communicate evidence-based arguments in favour of water fluoridation to the wider public, especially in areas where the local authority wants to move ahead with a water fluoridation scheme.

“A public consultation is an essential precursor to the implementation of a scheme. We are keen that when a consultation is announced, which may happen in the North East next year, there is an identifiable and reliable way for members of the public and the media to access the information they need.”

The BFS is currently a limited company with two categories of membership. Associate members can join for free and have the following benefits:

  • Involvement in the UK’s leading water fluoridation advocacy organization
  • Access to the members area of the website
  • Regular copies of the BFS Bulletin, keeping you in touch with fluoridation issue and events
  • The opportunity to convert to full membership

Full members, who pay a small fee, enjoy all the above as well as a greater degree of involvement in BFS activities, including attendance at the AGM and the right to vote. BFS welcomes both individual and corporate members who can join via the website.

Currently, around six million people in the UK benefit from a fluoridated water supply. Fluoridation reduces admissions of children to hospital for dental extractions by 68% in more deprived areas. The more deprived the children are, the greater the benefit. The oral health of the entire community is better in fluoridated areas than in non-fluoridated areas.

Oral health inequalities a major issue in reducing extractions, says BFS

Targeted Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) should be included in any programme to drive down the unacceptable level of dental decay in children, says  The British Fluoridation Society in a response to the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FDS RCSEng).

While supporting the call from FDS (in a press release issued 23/09/20) for the roll-out of supervised tooth brushing schemes in early years settings and for a renewed commitment to sugar taxes, BFS spokesperson Ray Lowry highlighted  the important role of water fluoridation.

He said: “Water fluoridation requires no behaviour change and the evidence (1) shows that it is highly effective in reducing dental decay and delivers the most benefit to the most deprived. Let us not forget that the oral health of children in England generally is improving at the same time as worsening among those living in areas of high need.  Work to reduce decay among the most deprived is ongoing and needs to be multi-faceted.”

Dr Lowry added: “Uncertainty over public health is a worry following the disbandment of Public Health England (PHE) but their work continues to inspire and inform. For instance, their guidance on water fluoridation for local authorities and water monitoring reports (2,3).”

“Following on from its excellent green paper on prevention (4), we would like to see the Government rolling back the cuts it has made to local authorities who have responsibility for public health and allow them to invest in areas of highest need. ”

References:

1)   https://academic.oup.com/ije/article-abstract/49/3/908/5826797

2)   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-fluoridation-health-monitoring-report-for-england-2018

3)   https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774128/Fluoridation_Toolkit_-_Publications_gateway_version_20160304.pdf

4)   https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/advancing-our-health-prevention-in-the-2020s/advancing-our-health-prevention-in-the-2020s-consultation-document