Statement By Dr Mark Hepworth, Abbey Dental, Ballasalla, Isle of Man

“In my personal opinion the islands water supply should not be fluoridated.

This method of tooth decay reduction is being suggested purely to save costs and resources. It relies upon a detailed understanding of the population's oral health behaviour (e.g. use of fluoride toothpaste), and does not take into account the availability and uptake of other decay prevention strategies.

It will have no benefit to the dental health of the Islands current adult population, indeed some groups maybe exposed to higher level of fluoride than that necessary to gain oral health benefits, particularly formula fed infants living in fluoridated water areas. “