Fluoride in drinking water cuts tooth decay in adults

An international study conducted by researchers at the University of Adelaide has resulted in the strongest evidence yet that fluoride in drinking water provides dental health benefits to adults.

In the first population-level study of its kind in the world, researchers have found that fluoridated drinking water is preventing tooth decay for all adults regardless of age - and significantly for people who have had exposure to fluoride for most of their lives.

Conducted by the Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH) at the University of Adelaide's School of Dentistry, the study adds to the established evidence that fluoride in drinking water has dental health benefits for children.

The study looked at data from a random sample of 3800 Australians aged 15 and over. The results are now published online in the international Journal of Dental Research.

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