§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further action he will take to ensure fluoride prevention of dental caries in children.
§ Mr. MoyleI shall continue to encourage fluoridation of water supplies, since this is by far the most effective means of ensuring the prevention of dental caries in the community.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now permit dental practitioners to prescribe sodium fluoride tablets for children up to the age of 16 years on form FP10: what is his estimate of the cost of so doing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleExperience has shown that the use of fluoride tablets is not a satisfactory community health measure, particularly since the necessary regularity of administration throughout the years of tooth formation is rarely achieved. I therefore prefer to encourage the fluoridation of water supplies, which is a far more effective means of protecting the community against dental caries. The cost of enabling dentists to prescribe fluoride tablets in the National Health Service cannot reliably be estimated.