The students were attending a screening of “That Sugar Film” as part of their health studies at Thames High School. Beck handed out the leaflets as the students left the screening.

In keeping with the theme of the film, the leaflet appears to be about sugar and the current WHO recommendations to reduce sugar consumption.

But the leaflet then goes on to state that ‘Tooth decay is caused by an excess of sugar not a lack of fluoride’ and that ‘fluoride is a toxin’ and provides links to anti-fluoride websites.

This is shameless propaganda by Beck; This flies in the face of long-established research, including a recent study from Australia reaffirming the benefits of fluoride regardless of sugar consumption.

Beck’s targeting of impressionable students is particularly unsavoury and disturbing given that Thames will hold a referendum later this year on the retention of fluoridation in the town water supply.

The Royal fluoridation review commissioned by Sir Peter Gluckman and Sir David Skegg on behalf of several local Councils concluded water fluoridation at the levels used in New Zealand poses no significant health risks, and is effective at reducing the prevalence and severity of tooth decay in communities where it is used.

Anti-fluoride leaflet

Sources

Blinkhorn, A. S., Byun, R., Mehta, P., & Kay, M. (2015). A 4-year assessment of a new water-fluoridation scheme in New South Wales, Australia. International Dental Journal. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25913418

Eason, C., & Elwood, JM. Seymour, Thomson, WM. Wilson, N. Prendergast, K. (2014). Health effects of water fluoridation : A review of the scientific evidence. http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/expert-advice/commissioned-reviews/yr2014/health-effects-of-water-fluoridation/

For comments

Dr. Ken Perrott

Science advisor for Making Sense of Fluoride

[email protected]

 

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