ANDREU ESTEBÃO (@ESTEBOANDREU)

Jul 31 #NZ #nzpol Fluoridation study revives concerns over consent and safety Health New Zealand is presenting new fluoridation data as proof community water fluoridation improves (?!?!?!?) children’s dental health, but opponents say the release is another example of authorities dismissing a decades-long debate over consent, safety and compulsory treatment. The new dashboard, alongside an analysis of more than 630,000 preschool children, claims non-fluoridated areas have higher rates of early childhood tooth decay, with researchers estimating around 4.4% of cases, or about 282 annually, are linked to the absence of fluoride. Critics argue the findings do not address wider concerns around adding fluoride to public water supplies without individual consent. They point to the 2023 High Court ruling involving former Director-General Ashley Bloomfield, concerns over dental fluorosis and ongoing debate around research examining fluoride exposure and children’s cognitive development. Read more at Public Health Communication Centre, https://fluoridefree.org.nz/