Fluoridation in South Africa

Abstract

The issues on fluoridation, fluorosis and fluorides in South Africa have been reported for the last 50 years. Efforts to implement water fluoridation between 1960 and 1980 failed partly due to lack of government action and a strong anti-fluoride lobby. The political change in South Africa since 1994 has given new support from the Ministry of Health for enabling legislation to implement water fluoridation in metropolitan areas where the technical support and some 55 per cent of the population reside. Fluoridation also addresses the equitable distribution of resources and access to a known benefit.