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Under the Microscope:  The public water supply has been fluoridated at a low level by the authorities since 1964. Many studies have shown that this is a very effective preventive measure against tooth decay and little or no evidence of side-effects has been reported beyond a low incidence of tooth discolouration.

Ingestion of fluoride at significantly higher levels would cause problems and concern has been voiced (Dan Fagin, Scientific American, January 2008) that, when intake of fluoride from toothpaste and from various foods and drinks is added to intake from fluoridated public water, levels of ingestion of fluoride could creep into the lower ranges where more serious side-effects are precipitated, particularly in the very young. However, the matter is being closely monitored and the experts still enthusiastically endorse fluoridation.