Fluoride should be added to water supplies to protect millions of Brits from tooth decay, says the Oral Health Foundation, after new research shows it has no negative effects on health.

The research, carried out by the National Toxicology Program in the US where 80 per cent of water is fluoridated, states that following years of analysis, there is “no link between elevated levels of fluoride and cognitive learning deficits” and suggests that adding the mineral to water supplies would have a positive effect on dental health and help prevent tooth decay.

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, says water fluoridation is a safe and highly effective way to significantly reduce health inequalities across the UK. “The single biggest improvement to oral health in the United Kingdom came with the introduction of fluoride into toothpastes and water fluoridation schemes can have an equally positive effect,” he said. “By introducing water fluoridation schemes, especially into areas of lower social economic status where childhood tooth decay is at its highest, local authorities can make a significant impact improving oral health across the UK.”