Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
A comparison was made of the dental health of children aged 4-5 and 9-10 in two Scottish towns, one with fluoridated drinking water and the other without. Striking differences were observed. A 44% reduction in decayed, missing, and filled deciduous teeth was found in 4-5 year-olds in the fluoridated compared with the non-fluoridated town and a 50% reduction in decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth was recorded for the 9-10-year-olds. Larger percentage differences were found for the anterior teeth: a 65% reduction in deciduous incisors and canines, and an 81% reduction in permanent incisors and canines. Fluoridation of public water supplies in urban areas of Scotland would be a safe and effective way of dramatically improving dental health.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Blinkhorn et al. (1981) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: