Vol. 413 No. 9
235 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Health if any studies have been undertaken to determine whether the artificial fluoridation of water has been damaging or helpful in preventing tooth decay; whether these tests correspond with tests in other countries; and if the results here are the same as in other countries.
Studies have been carried out here and in other countries to determine the effectiveness of water fluoridation in the prevention of dental caries.
Studies carried out here show that there has been a major decline in the prevalence of caries in Irish schoolchildren since the introduction of the programme for the fluoridation of public water supplies. Studies in other countries have produced similar results on the effectiveness of water fluoridation.
