Contradicting expectations, many studies show cavity rates decline or stay the same when fluoridation ceases. For example:
* Despite 25 years of water fluoridation, children
in Bauru, Brazil, have just as many cavities as children in Jau, Brazil, where
six years of fluoridation ended in 1992, according to a study presented at the March 2002 International Association for Dental Research General
Session. (1a)
* "No increase in caries (cavities) was found in Kuopio
(Finland) 3 years after the discontinuation of water fluoridation,"
according to Caries Research (1b). In fact, when Kuopio was compared to a
similar never-fluoridated Finnish town, cavity rates in both towns either
remained the same or decreased six years after fluoridation was stopped in
Kuopio.
* Seven years after fluoridation ended in LaSalud, Cuba,
cavities remained low in 6 to 9 year olds, decreased in 10 to 11 year-olds,
significantly decreased in 12 to 13 year olds, while caries-free children
increased dramatically, reports Caries Research (2).
* East German scientists report, "following the
cessation of water fluoridation in the cities Chemnitz (formerly Karl-Marx-Stadt)
and Plauen, a significant fall in caries prevalence was observed,"
according to Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (3). Additional surveys
in the formerly-fluoridated towns of Spremberg and Zittau found. "Caries
levels for the 12-year-olds of both towns significantly decreased... following
the cessation of water fluoridation."
* Not only did decay rates remain stable during an 11-month
fluoridation break in Durham, NC, between September, 1990, and August, 1991 but
dental fluorosis declined in children born during that period, according to the
Journal of Dental Research (4)
* In British Columbia, Canada, "the prevalence of
caries decreased over time in the fluoridation-ended community while remaining
unchanged in the fluoridated community," reported in Community Dentistry
and Oral Epidemiology. (5)
* In 1973, the Dutch town of Tiel stopped fluoridation.
Researchers counted drilled, missing, and filled tooth surfaces (DMFS) of
Tiel's 15-year olds, then collected identical data from never-fluoridated
Culemborg. DMFS initially increased in Tiel then dipped to 11% of baseline from
1968/69 to 1987/88 while never-fluoridated Culemborg's 15-year-olds had 72%
less cavities over the same period, reports Caries Research. (6)
* Children in fluoridated-since-1945 Newburgh, New York, have no less tooth decay but significantly more dental fluorosis than children from never-fluoridated Kingston, New York, according to Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology June1999.
References:
(1a) The interruption in the water fluoridation related to
dental caries prevalence in Jau-SP, Brazil, Peres, et al, Universidade de Sao
Paulo, Brazil 2002 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session (San Diego, California)
(1b) "Caries trends 1992-1998 in two low-fluoride
Finnish towns formerly with and without fluoridation," Caries Research,
Nov-Dec 2000
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=
11093019&dopt=Abstract
(2) "Caries prevalence after cessation of water
fluoridation in LaSalud, Cuba," Caries Research Jan-Feb. 2000
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=
10601780&dopt=Abstract
(3) "Decline of caries prevalence after the cessation
of water fluoridation in the former East Germany," Community Dentistry and
Oral Epidemiology, October 2000
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=
11014515&dopt=Abstract
(4) "The effects of a break in water fluoridation on
the development of dental caries and fluorosis," Journal of Dental
Research, Feb. 2000
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=
10728978&dopt=Abstract
(5) "Patterns of dental caries following the cessation
of water fluoridation," Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology,
February 2001
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=
11153562&dopt=Abstract
(6) "Caries experience of 15-year-old children in The
Netherlands after discontinuation of water fluoridation," Caries Research,
1993
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=
8519058&dopt=Abstract
(7) Benefits and Risks of Water Prepared under contract for:
Public Health Branch, Ontario Ministry of Health
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada
Submitted by:
Dr David Locker
Community Dental Health Services Research Unit
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto
November 15, 1999 Fluoridation
ENDIT
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