Water fluoridation in Australia: A systemic review

Water fluoridation is widely considered a safe and effective public health strategy to improve oral health. A review conducted by an academic team led by Charles Sturt University’s Lalantha Senevirathna, Associate Professor in Engineering, aimed to systematically summarise the available evidence on water fluoridation in Australia, focusing on its history, health impacts, cost effectiveness, challenges and limitations.

The review highlighted the uneven distribution of research on water fluoridation in Australia, with certain regions taking a more proactive role in this area over the years. Since 2010, there has been notable growth in publications, indicating sustained interest from the research community. Recent studies consistently highlight the positive effects of water fluoridation, particularly in reducing tooth decay among both children and adults.

Despite most Australians having access to fluoridated water, some regional and remote communities still lack this public health measure. It is important to maintain a balanced approach to researching both the positive and negative impacts of fluoridation to ensure remaining gaps are not overlooked.