SHOULD we have flouride in our water? The question, bubbling under for a number of years at this stage, has resurfaced with news that the Government has commissioned a review of the evidence of the impact of fluoridation on public health.
The review will be carried out by the Health Research Board and will examine international material on the matter.
It will be presented to the Government in December.
In the meantime, we are sure to be presented with the cases for and against the continued fluoridation of the water supply.
Critics of the practice, who appear to be growing in number of late, claim that putting flouride in our water damages public health and the environment.
Supporters of the status quo, meanwhile, argue that flouride has no proven impact on health, and also is a safe way of preventing tooth decay in the population.
This survey is hugely important. Expect to hear a lot more on this