Evidence is clear that tooth decay is the result of food left on teeth that plaque bacteria can change to acid demineralisation, which exceeds saliva and other remineralisation of teeth.

Even with fluoridation and oral hygiene, tooth decay is still the most common food related disease affecting all families, having the economic impact of heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

Since 11 million Australians develop decay each year, 38% have untreated decay. Approximately $3.7 billion was spent on dental services in 2001, growing to $6 billion currently.
Only a low 1.7% on prevention. Supertooth can reduce this burden of DK.

All cavities occur from acid demineralisation of teeth where chewing leaves food trapped on teeth displacing previously trapped food. Though some foods like confection are hard to displace while nuts, cheese and sugarless chocolate may protect teeth.

More than 95% of trapped food is left packed between teeth after every meal or snack, over 80% of cavities develop inside pits and fissures in grooves on chewing surfaces where the brush cannot reach and fluoride toothpaste with saliva have no access to neutralise acid and remineralise tooth.

Expensive fissure sealants painted over grooves by dentists block food being trapped and changed to acid helping prevent tooth decay about as much as fluoridation.

Since acid forming foods are trapped under chewing pressure to cause decay, chewing tooth friendly foods before and after eating should limit acid demineralisation and could even aid remineralisation to save costs.

Commenting on a potential blow-out is not the issue I believe. The dental services, including the school programmes, have been wound down by previous governments. It will require substantial investment to bring it up to date, using best practice.

It is interesting to see an acknowledgement that despite fluoridation dental decay continues; pointing the finger on the real cause as poor dental hygiene and education.
I would add is the poor government dental services resulting that patients are unable to have regular checkups from childhood to adulthood.
By the time they can get attention it is often too late.
Anti-fluoridation community groups have been saying for years.
Europe had stopped fluoridating drinking water supplies many years ago. Something the Victorian DHS denies and insists on using data that is up to 30 years behind the times.
Recently a European High Court decision will basically spell the death knell on fluoridation.
http://www.ukcaf.org/european_court_ruling_spells_an_end_to_fluoridatio.html

It has always been questionable in my view. I believe that it breaches many of our laws including the Constitution and Medical Acts. It certainly breaches the Nuremburg Code.
I grew up on outback stations with un-fluoridated water. Most of the drinking water was tank water.

I am surprised how much angst the government is prepared to put the public through just to get its own way.

• It is not the role of government to medicate the population, those wishing to ingest fluoridate have the option of fluoridated toothpaste, gel, tablets, etc.
• Those forced to drink fluoridated water have no choice ,
• The government can advise those wanting it of the options available.
Are the Australian government/s so much a captive of vested interests. My family and I grew-up without fluoridated water and had perfect teeth until moving to Melbourne with its fluoridated water and they also had access to more of the sugar based lollies, drinks, etc.
With the change of life style my own teeth deteriorated as well.
On the farm we had plain natural foods without all of those additives that seem part of social living in the city.
Regards professori_au
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Continued
If governments were to spend more on dental services and educating the public regarding dental hygiene we would have less problems.

Applying under the pensioner dental programme for dentures and was put on the waiting list.

• After 12 months, I checked up on my place in the waiting list. Told not on the waiting list but they would put me on it.
• Four year on contacted them again. Told the same thing. Not on it but they would put me on it.
• A further wait nearly 3.5 years I received a set of ill-fitting dentures. When the dentist put them in my mouth, I told him that they did not fit as they rocked from side to side and tiled forward. He told me it would take a while my gums settle in and bent the wires to tighten them up.

I tried to put up with them and started to get ulcerated gums, so contact the Royal Melbourne Dental Hospital where I was told I would have to go on the waiting list :(. Jokingly I asked the appointment officer "when they are ready would you knock on my coffin and let me know". Startled, she asked what I meant. I told her of the 8.5 years wait and at 76, it was likely that I might have die in the meantime.
She understood and said that there was another option if I was willing to go on the dental student-training programme. She would be able to get me in immediately. With some trepidation, I agreed.
All I can say about the student programme is that I could not have been better treated than if I had been a millionaire receiving treatment with the best dentists in the land.
The students and demonstrators were polite and caring.
Examining my set, the "demonstrator" (supervisor) immediately said that they were not acceptable.
As a teaching programme, they tried to repair the dentures. When it became apparent that nothing would fix them, they made a new set. They are excellent and I could not wish for better.

its allways nice to hear what the experts say..[i was at a dentist in canberra at one time]..[getting yet another tooth pulled out..resulting from a bad teeth clean..done by a dentist in the redlands..[who cleverly managed to etch out the enamel on the gum line..and between my teeth..under the guise of giving me a free clean]

anyhow there was a cabnet of food groups we should be eating more of[and it was laughable that orange juice was at the top of the display case...obviously the acid in the orange juice is not good for teeth

further the bacteria...and there is one particular type..the bacteria excreet acid...there was a cure i heard of years ago that killed off all that strain in our mouths via some antibiotic..but somehow that info has disappeared

also unspoken is that kissing someonme with the bacteria is the best way to get the bad bacteria..that till you get that bad strain you cant get decay...because there is more 'good' bacteria

another point is our bodies are too acid[lowering our body ph]..that upping our alcalinity can actually refill cavities naturally[i think from memory the miracle incrediant..[for upping the ph is baking powder[or baking soda]..but again tracking down that info is near impossable

fleuride does little for teeth...the use of fleuride is mainly so govt can add medication to water..and the pacification of the population used to be a standard operating procedure from way back in the roman times..

god alone knows why we need people to take metal fleurides..a waste product from petro refining..who's only use is toothpaste and adding to our drinking water...but it must be a good little earner to make people feel guilty

anyhow i dont mind being corrected where i get things wrong..[so look forward to any correction or rebuttal

Fluoridation has greatly reduced tooth decay by making teeth more resistant to acid demineralisation but everyone leaves food on their teeth after every meal or snack and when that food causes acid attack seveveral times a day, teeth do develop cavities that are usually easy to fill or seal before toothache sets in so food is not trapped to cause further attack.

Most cavities occur inside the grooves in the chewing surfaces of back teeth and before fluoridation most were extracted because they caused toothache, now they are filled and the cost is blowing out because dental health education is not adequate.

Supertooth, nice overview of current dental health issues. Thanks.