The Bega Valley Shire Council has said it will consult with the community on a proposal to fluoridate all the shire’s drinking water.

In a report to last week’s council meeting Group Manager of Infrastructure, Waste and Water Doug Mein said that over the past 12 months council had received a number of enquiries from community members, dental practitioners and NSW Health regarding the introduction of fluoridation to areas not already treated.

Local dentist and owner of the Bega Dental Practice Mary Tiutiunnik said she believed one of the reasons contributing to local residents having better teeth than many others in the shire was fluoridation.

“There is natural fluoride in Bega water anyway,” she said.

“But having fluoride in the water here for some 50 years has certainly helped people’s teeth.”

Ms Tiutiunnik said tooth decay was one of the most common childhood diseases and was five times more common than asthma in five-17 year olds.

“Fluoride reduces dental decay by around 20-40 per cent and costs around 50 cents to $3 year per person,” she said.

“A lifetime of fluoridated water will cost less than some dental fillings.”

Ms Tiutiunnik said in the Bega Shire there was one government dental therapist, a public dental clinic which was rarely manned and no government funding for private dentists to treat children under general anaesthetic for dental problems.

“Fillings contain fluoride anyway and if children or adults need to take antibiotics for infections, is that any healthier?” she said.

Ms Tiutiunnik said she would be happy to see the whole shire with fluoride.

“Water fluoridation is a World Health Organisation recommendation and has been one of the 10 most successful public health measures this century,” she said.

According to Mr Mein, there would be no capital cost to council as a 100 per cent capital works subsidy is now provided by the NSW Government for the design and installation of fluoridation plants.

“The cost benefit ratio is understood to be conservatively estimated at one dollar invested in water fluoridation delivers at least $13 saving in dental costs,” Mr Mein said.

Council has five staff trained in fluoride plant operation associated with the Bega-Tathra water supply system but others would need training should fluoridation be adopted for the remainder of the shire.

Mr Mein said drinking water fluoridation was an emotive subject in some communities.

“In NSW, the evidence base for the safety, effectiveness and equity of fluoridation remains strong,” he said.

“This is revealed in, among other things, continuous population epidemiology tracking that shows no correlation between water fluoridation and any other disease.”

Mr Mein recommended that council engage in community consultation before making any decision on the matter.

The final resolution would go the Director General of Health for final approval or rejection.

Councillors resolved that staff should consul with NSW Health and design a community consultation program to be undertaken prior to any decision to introduce fluoridation.