Editorial: Principal's right over benefits of fluoride

Our region's children have higher rates of tooth or dental decay than many other regions of New Zealand, writes Kim Gillespie.

Rotorua principal Patrick Walsh hits the nail squarely on the head when he points out the problems of not having fluoride in our water.

As reported in our story today, Mr Walsh says our schools see first-hand the "detrimental effects of not having fluoride in Rotorua water".

He's seen many Rotorua students requiring root canals, extractions and lots of fillings at a young age. And while he's been in education for 30 years, he's never heard of fluoride having detrimental effects on children.

Often the children are forgotten in the fluoride debate as it gets mired in accusations of mass medication and state-sanctioned poisoning of the populace.

Fluoride opponents will often say kids can get fluoride from toothpaste or tablets. But what about those kids whose parents don't make them brush their teeth? It's disheartening to hear that students with gleaming white teeth from centres that do fluoridate their water are showing up local kids with poor teeth. But, of course, it's not a surprise.

Anti-fluoride protesters say people should buy fluoride tablets to add to their water if they want it.

But as Mr Walsh points out, buying fluoride tablets is "hugely inconvenient" for families.

Maybe those who don't want fluoride could buy bottled water? Our region's children have higher rates of tooth or dental decay than many other regions of New Zealand.

Referendum or not, it's fantastic that our council is considering doing something about it. (It's also fantastic that Local Government New Zealand want central government to do its job and take ownership of the issue.)

As fluoride opponents gather this weekend to discuss what they call the truth about fluoride, ask yourself if you truly believe the Ministry of Health and Lakes District Health Board support poisoning our kids, and ask yourself what's more important - the health of their teeth as they grow up, or their right not to have fluoride in their water.