The Irish Dental Association has welcomed the findings of a new review which has found there is no definitive evidence that community water fluoridation has negative health effects.

The in-depth review was carried out by the Health Research Board, the lead agency in Ireland supporting and funding health research.

The HRB said that having examined the research available and excluding dental health it had found no definitive evidence that community water fluoridation is associated with positive or negative systemic health effects.

The President of the Irish Dental Association, Dr Anne Twomey, said the Association would study the findings carefully.

“The review found no definitive evidence to link fluoridation to increased bone fractures, reduced IQ, cancer, heart disease, kidney disorders, Down Syndrome or increased mortality from all causes. In relation to an alleged link to bone cancer, it said the literature pointed to “mixed” effects and no link had been proven.”

“The HRB review follows fifteen major peer-reviewed studies of fluoridation undertaken across the world by recognised academic authorities in the past twenty years. None of these major reviews has concluded that community water fluoridation poses a known risk to general health or has suggested halting water fluoridation.“

“These, and other reviews which dealt solely with oral health, show a significant benefit to dental health and through this to general health” Dr Twomey concluded.

Ends.

For further information

Contact Kieran Garry

Gordon MRM

01/6650455 or 0872368366

www.dentist.ie

Note to Editor

The full HRB report can be viewed at www.hrb.ie/publications