Almost 217,000 residents in regional and rural NSW are without fluoridated drinking water, putting their long-term oral health at risk, according to a new analysis by ADA NSW.
Fluoridation outages and non-implementation across multiple LGAs mean families in these communities are unfairly disadvantaged by what ADA NSW is calling a “postcode lottery” for children’s teeth.
The detrimental oral health impact is clear and ADA NSW states that:
- Children aged five to six in non-fluoridated areas average 2.62 decayed, missing or filled teeth, compared with 1.4 teeth in fluoridated areas.
- Children in non-fluoridated regions can experience up to three times more dental decay.
- Tooth decay is the leading cause of preventable hospital admissions for NSW children, with thousands undergoing extractions under general anaesthetic every year.
- Every $1 invested in fluoridation saves $7–$18 in avoided dental treatment costs.
ADA NSW spokesperson Dr Sophie Halpin, who lives in Dubbo, a major NSW town that been without fluoridated water since 2019, said: “Even though fluoride toothpaste is widely available, there is still substantially more tooth decay in non-fluoridated areas. We are letting children suffer preventable pain and disadvantage when a safe, proven and cost-effective public health measure is already available.”
Recent data presented to the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Advisory Committee shows offline systems or gaps in fluoridation across councils including Warrumbungle Shire Council, Federation Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Glen Innes Severn Council, Bogan Shire Council and Central Coast Council, Moree Plains Shire Council, Muswellbrook Shire Council and Uralla Shire Council.
ADA NSW is urging consistent implementation and maintenance of fluoridation wherever practicable and economically viable.
