Health experts lament removal of fluoride from Queensland water supplies

GYMPIE, Australia: Despite water fluoridation being recognised as one of the twentieth century’s greatest public health achievements, an increasing number of local councils in Queensland—Australia’s third most populous state—are withdrawing from the practice. In September, Gympie Regional Council voted to remove fluoride from its water supply, making it the fourth Queensland municipality to end fluoridation or decommission dosing facilities since December last year. The decision comes as new state research demonstrates that fluoridation continues to reduce childhood caries rates.