The Australian Dental Association has issued a warning about “extremist” anti-fluoride groups.

Two Queensland councils - Mackay and Gladstone – have recently decided to stop adding fluoride to the water supply.

Just 24 of the state’s 77 councils still actively adding fluoride to water,

While polls show strong support for the decision among residents, the Australian Dental Association’s Dr Michael Foley says this could be a result of “nutty” fringe groups spreading misinformation.

Dr Foley says the State Government should take over responsibility for fluoridating water.

“Surely both sides of politics can get together to stop this lunacy that’s happening with water fluoridation, because at the end of the day people’s health is being affected by these lunatic, conspiracy-theory fringe groups,” Dr Foley told News Corp reporters this week. 

“As a health professional I’m entitled to get really annoyed when these nutty conspiracy theory groups bombard councils because it ends up impacting on the health of Queenslanders.”

Queenslanders for Safe Water president Merilyn Haines describes water fluoridation as “unethical mass medication” without the “express consent of the community.”

“When you’re adding fluoride chemicals to drinking water, it’s done with the deliberate intention of having a therapeutic effect on part of the human body,” Ms Haines told reporters.

“It’s both a medication and a treatment through the water supply without any informed consent.”

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill says the city will not to go the way of other local governments in Queensland.

“At this stage there’s no reason to remove fluoride based on the evidence provided,” she said.

“The debate in Mackay was really more about who was going to pay, that was the real issue.

“We’ve had it for a long time and only add it through once main source... while some councils have up to six different treatment plants.

“That makes adding fluoride very expensive for them but that’s not a concern here.’’

The Mayor’s views are backed by a two-year survey by Queensland Health, which found children in Townsville have better oral health than surrounding regions that previously did not use fluoride.

“There are always people who have their objections, like those who don’t believe in vaccinations,” Cr Hill said.

“Public health is about the greater good for the rest of the community.”

The National Health and Medical Research Council has published lengthy reviews of fluoridation in Australia, which are available here.