Calls for Sugar Tax Supported by Dentists Against Fluoridation
Calls by New Zealand Dental Association spokesman Dr. Rob Beaglehole last week for a Sugar Tax to curb the high decay
rate in Kiwi kids is fully supported by Dentists Against Fluoridation, says spokesman Dr. Stan Litras.
Comments by Associate Health Minister, Peter Dunne (Sunday, TVOne, March 8th), denying the need to curb sugar
consumption in children are most alarming to any dentist, says Dr. Litras.
"Claiming that sugar is not the root cause of tooth decay, and suggesting that putting fluoride in the water will fix
the problem of the large numbers of kiwi kids requiring dental treatment under general anaesthetic, reveals an extreme
lack of knowledge in this area for which Mr. Dunne holds the portfolio.
I would ask Mr. Dunne for a start to explain why areas with water fluoridation have just as many or more kids requiring
general anaesthetics?
The sugar industry has been aware that its product causes tooth decay and other health problems for decades, and has
fought to maintain its market by lobbying health agencies and supporting water fluoridation in the hope that this will
overcome the damage they are causing, as was again exposed in papers released last week http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150310143922.htm?utm_source=feedburner
Our Health Ministry needs to wake up to the fact that tooth decay is caused by sugar consumption, not lack of water
fluoridation, and show some responsibility in this area.
Ill informed comments such as those made by Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne and also by social media blogger
Cameron Slater, who subsequently attacked Dr. Beaglehole on his Whaleoil blog, do the New Zealand public a great
disservice." Dr. Litras said.
Dentists Against Fluoridation is a new advocacy group for dentists which has arisen out of the dentist study group,
Fluoride Information Network for Dentists.
ends