A report by the Australian Dental Association has found that the lack of enamel-strengthening fluoride in bottled water is a major factor in the high level of tooth decay in children. A study conducted by the Australian Research Centre for Oral Health, Adelaide, Australia, found that permanent tooth decay in 14- and 15-year-olds increased by 71% in the 6 years until 2002. The increase in tooth decay coincided with the rise in popularity of bottled water and sports drinks in the mid 1990s. The rise also coincided with an increase in disposable incomes in Australian households, which means people have money to spend on soft drinks and sports drinks. In Queensland, Australia, young men on work sites often consumed up to 3 liters of soft drinks a day. The massive increase in decay reversed improvements in dental health after fluoride was introduced to water systems in the early 1970s. One researcher also blamed sustained-release sugary foods, such as boiled sweets and lollipops, for the increase in tooth decay.
(source: The AustralianñThe Nation Web site; theaustralian.news.com. au/story/0,20867,19990895, 2702,00.html; August 2, 2006)
