Examples of fluoridate

• First, the practicalities dictate that fluoridating a water supply should be a strategic regional decision, not a local matter.

• Most of the worst districts for tooth decay were not fluoridated; a number of these are in the north-west.

• Its water supply was fluoridated in 1986; 10 years later the rate of tooth decay in five year-olds has halved.

• The review found that the evidence showed that fluoridating water helps to reduce tooth decay.

• Natural fluoride concentrations are periodically monitored by the water undertaker in areas which are not artificially fluoridated.

• These league tables show that, in general, districts with the best oral health were fluoridated.

• There is no difference whatsoever between artificially fluoridated and naturally fluoridated water.

• Once that consultation had been carried out, and if there was a local majority, the water company serving that area would be obliged to fluoridate.

• Water authorities are encouraged to comply with health authorities' requests to fluoridate.

• Twenty-seven want to fluoridate, but because it is a metropolitan water authority, one council is sufficient to prevent this happening.

• For something like £5 million a year, we could fluoridate the water supply of the whole country, and cut the incidence of decay by half.

• Water boards fluoridate only at the request of the local health authority.

• Present policy is to encourage area health authorities to fluoridate water.

• However, the areas which were not previously fluoridated remain that way, which is a decision of the water company.

• If children are having fluoridated water, there is no need for them to have fluoridated milk.