Dental Health: Children Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department of Health and Social Care
Lord Maxton
Main Page: Lord Maxton (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Maxton's debates with the Department of Health and Social Care
(7 years, 11 months ago)
Lords ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Maxton (Lab)
My Lords, will the Minister agree that the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to ensure that children do not get and suffer as much from tooth decay is to ensure that all water supplies have the right levels of fluoride in them?
Lord Prior of Brampton
My Lords, there is no doubt that fluoridisation is a critical part of good oral hygiene. This is up to local authorities. Public Health England will assist local authorities that wish to introduce fluoride into their water. I add that 3.5 million children in 2014-15 received a fluoride varnish. It is not the same as putting it in the water, but it is fully recognised that fluoride is a critical part of good oral hygiene.