Science Media Centre

As parliament considers a bill to put decision-making about community water fluoridation in the hands of district health boards, fluoridation is likely to remain a polarising issue for some communities. The SMC asked New Zealand and international experts to discuss what the science says about the benefits of fluoridation and where the objections stem from. […]

The fluoride debate is heating up again with a prominent anti-fluoridation activist touring the country and a Taranaki High Court decision imminent on the legality of fluoridation in the region. The SMC conducted the following Q&A with public health experts on fluoride. Additional comments will be posted on our website. Professor Barry Borman, Associate Director, […]

Hamilton residents participating in a local body referendum have voted overwhelmingly to resume fluoridating the city’s water supply. The referendum result saw 70 per cent of those who voted, 23,000 people, vote to have their water fluoridated. This follows a move earlier in the year by the Hamilton City Council to stop fluoridation of the […]

New research has drawn a link between a history dental x-ray imaging and incidence of meningioma, a type of brain tumor — but experts note that advances in x-ray equipment, regulations and the low actual incidence of the disease mean that people should not be worried about the health risks. The new study, published in […]