Protect our children’s teeth – Don’t poison them with toxic fluoride waste.
The Lift the Lip campaign, to get Canterbury preschoolers to the dental nurse, has led to a big drop in tooth deacy. The
number of five-year-olds without cavities has increased 14 per cent over the past nine years - “all without
fluoridation” points out Mark Atkin, of Fluoride Action Network (FANNZ).
The campaign was launched in 2000. It involves GPs enrolling children into dental services at 15 months of age. Parents
are encouraged to take their children for yearly dental checks until they are five. "By seeing children when they are
very young we can pick up problems early and talk to parents or caregivers about how best to look after young teeth"
said the programme’s clinical director, Dr Martin Lee.
Speaking of the fluoridation trial conducted in Kaitaia and Kaikohe since 2007, Mr Atkin adds “The Northland District
Health Board needs to stop wasting taxpayer money, stop forcing fluoridation on people, and do something useful like
this for dental health in the Far North.”
Dr. Neil Croucher, of the Northland DHB, confirmed that implementation of a teeth-brushing programme in Far North
schools, where children have some of the worst teeth in New Zealand, had been “hugely successful”. Dr Croucher is also
partly responsible for the Far North fluoridation trial.
FANNZ is deeply concerned about improving dental health. “Proper dental care is the way to improve children’s teeth –
not by feeding them toxic industrial waste called ‘fluoride’, contaminated with lead, arsenic, and mercury” concludes Mr
Atkin. “Fluoridation has been shown by the latest scientific research to be ineffective in reducing tooth decay, as well
as posing serious health risks.”
For example, in 2006 the US Public Health Service advised parents not to use fluoridated water in making up baby
formula, due to risk of dental fluorosis – a tooth enamel deformity. NZ Food Safety Authority documents confirm that
this warning applies in New Zealand also “If fluoridated water is not safe for babies then it shouldn’t be in our water”
says Mr Atkin.
The majority of developed countries have rejected fluoridation on scientific and ethical grounds. “This is in spite of
political pressure from the fluoridation lobby, stemming from the USA.” advises Mr Atkin.
Public meetings on fluoridation are being held in the Far North in the last week of April.
ends