Acceptance of fluoridation of water supply by Health Area
Data table
View data tableNote
Statistical Local Areas grouped according to Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) remoteness categories on the basis of Accessibility/Remoteness Index for Australia (ARIA+ version) score.
Source
NSW Population Health Survey (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health.
Commentary
Water fluoridation delivers the most cost-effective and socially equitable means of providing protection from tooth decay (ADA, 2004; ARCPOH 2006). Children living in unfluoridated areas have significantly higher dental decay rates than those living in fluoridated areas despite the availability of fluoride toothpaste (Armfield, 2005; Armfield et al., 2007).
In 2007, 88.5% of NSW residents responding to the NSW Population Health Survey supported fluoridation of the community water supply. In 2005, respondents in the major cities indicated highest support (91.9%), followed by inner regional (82.1%). Respondents in the outer regional and remote areas of NSW indicated the lowest support (76.2%).
In 2007, the Health Area with the highest support was the South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service (90.9% persons). There were minimal differences between 4 leading Health Areas (0.6% difference).
The lowest support was in the North Coast Area Health Service, where only 73.2% of male respondents to the survey and 74.4% of female respondents supported fluoridation.
Fluoridation of the community water supply helps protect against dental decay, but fluoride consumed excessively in early childhood can cause dental fluorosis, which is a disorder of dental enamel affecting the appearance of teeth. Excessive consumption of fluoride usually takes place when children who drink fluoridated water are also inappropriately given fluoride supplements or inadvertently ingest toothpaste containing fluoride. Fluoride programs in Australia seek to strike a balance by improving the oral health of children with a low level of side-effects (AIHW, 2008).
For more information
Armfield JM, Slade GD & Spencer AJ. Water fluoridation and children's dental health: The Child Dental Health Survey, Australia 2002. Cat. no. DEN 170. Dental statistics and research series no. 36. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2007. Available at www.adelaide.edu.au/spdent/dsru/pub_frame.html
Australian Dental Association. Policy statement: Community oral health promotion. Fluoride use. ADA, 2004.
Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), Dental School, The University of Adelaide, South Australia. The Use of Fluorides in Australia: Guidelines. Australian Dental Journal, 2006. 51: (2) 195-199.
Armfield J. Public Water Fluoridation and Dental Health in New South Wales. Aust New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2005. 29: 477-483.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australia's health 2008. Cat. no. AUS 99. Canberra: AIHW, 2008. Available at: www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10585
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Copyright notice
This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2006. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited.
Suggested citation
Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/chorep/. Accessed (insert date of access).
Produced by
Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.
Last updated on 15 December 2008
