1. Rosemary  I live in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and our council has fluridated water for many years.  The decay of childrens teeth in the east in the fluridated area is much less than the Western bay. 

2. The root of the problem lies within education commencing from the beginning of life. We need to enhance education how its delivered and by whom.

More mobile caravans, and easier access to dental therapists. While we are on the subject we need to  support  more therapists to ensure they stay by increasing support by student loan payments and then bonding. 

Ensuring parents/caregivers take increased responsibility for the children in their care. When you empower people to have self management the whole outcome for health shifts to a more active responsible level

1. The Tauranga community needs to be consulted on this important issue, with good background information.  The Council candidates should be asked this question to determine whether there is an interest in putting the matter on their work programme.

2. This is a continuing challenge and I believe that parent education is a good place to start.  Early teeth cleaning habits and regular mobile clinic visits to schools by well trained staff are essential.  More work needs to be undertaken on how best to regularly check and treat those on benefits who often give dental care very low priority due to the cost

Hi Rosemary

The dental hygiene status for BOP children is appalling.

Health promotion education around dental hygiene is extremely important, but frequently fails to reach the most at-risk populations.  I fully support fluoridation of the water supply. 

I do not believe it should be a local government decision.  It is a public health matter.  In the past the BOPDHB and dental practitioners have petitioned the Council to do it, but the Council voted against it.

The balance of evidence favours fluoridation of the drinking water but ‘you do not keep a dog and bark yourself’ and so surely a DHB must act upon the expert advice of the local public health experts (Toi Te Ora) who are paid good money to advise us. It is a waste of tax dollars to pay someone for their expertise and direction just to ignore them. I would look to these same  population health experts for what extra measures besides water fluoridation had evidence to support them.

The evidence on the relationship between water fluoridation and tooth decay and an excellent analysis by a UK PCT (comparable to a DHB) is available:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC27492/

http://www.southcentral.nhs.uk/document_store/12351421641_ha09-020(i)_water_fluoridation_-_the_scientific_evidence.pdf

Awaiting response

Awaiting response

No to fluoride in city water supply.

Yes to education, supply fluoride tablets to parents and schools, more frequent check-ups for children, mobile dental clinics.

Response

The question of water fluoridation is the mandate of Tauranga City Council. The District Health Board is elected for its strong governance and not day to day management. We need to be very focused on getting the high level strategic thinking right, so that staff can get their management right - including a strong focus on \"front-line\" solutions. Board members have no more influence over the fluoridation issue than any other member of the city\'s community.