Celebrating 50 years of water fluoridation in birmingham – A time for decision-makers to tackle high tooth decay rates elsewhere

摘要

Fifty years ago Birmingham became the first major city in England to fluoridate its water. Tooth decay among the city's children was rampant. Multiple extractions under a general anaesthetic were common. Fortunately, a far-sighted public health doctor, Dr Leslie Millar, knew about the success of water fluoridation in the United States and Canada and advised councillors to introduce a scheme in Birmingham. Fortunately, the councillors listened and voted in favour of the proposal, despite the efforts of fluoridation's opponents to frighten the local population with horror stories about the nasty things that would supposedly happen to them.