National Fluoride Information Centre (United Kingdom)
Note: Many anti-fluoridation activists tell the public that âEurope doesnât fluoridate.â Although it is true that water fluoridation is not common in Europe, this argument is very misleading because there are other ways, such fluoridating salt and milk, that many European countries provide fluoride to their citizens:
âSalt fluoridation was introduced in Switzerland in 1955 and it is now estimated that fluoridated salt is available to nearly 200 million people worldwide, including Europe, Central and South America and the Caribbean. It is the preferred method of fluoridation on mainland Europe and is widely available in France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Czech Republic and Slovakia.â
In addition, millions of Irish and English drink fluoridated water:
âFive and a half million people in England drink artificially fluoridated water. In these areas the children have among the lowest levels of tooth decay in the country. Recent independent research at the University of York has confirmed the benefits of fluoridation. Fluoridation works best in large towns with a simple water supply and where the children have high amounts of dental decay. People living in Birmingham and Newcastle have been drinking fluoridated water for more than 30 years.â