Tooth decay claims rubbished

By FRANCESCA MOLD

Water suppliers have rejected dentists' claims that filtered water may be damaging children's teeth, but agree that bottled varieties could be cause for concern.

Dentists believe that a growing number of children and teenagers are inadvertently cutting fluoride from their diet by replacing tap water with bottled and filtered varieties.

They say anecdotal evidence suggests a big rise in children with significant tooth decay, who come from homes where water filters are used.

They are also concerned that "sipper" bottles containing fruit or sports drinks were causing acid attacks on teeth by eroding the enamel.

But Just Water, a company that supplies 25,000 water coolers and filters to businesses and schools, says the dentists' comments on fluoride removal are misleading.

Executive chairman Tony Falkenstein said it was very rare for filtered water to remove fluoride.

"Filters remove chlorine, taste and any impurities from the water, but not fluoride."

It was wrong to put filtered water in the same category as bottled, which often had fluoride removed, he said.

Distillers, which purified water by steaming it, also extracted everything, including fluoride, said Mr Falkenstein.

Pure Water New Zealand managing director John Fennell said there was no conclusive proof that fluoride protected teeth against cavities.

His company sold tens of thousands of distillers to people who wanted to remove fluoride from their water supply.