I READ your article ‘Study proposed over adding fluoride to water supply in Darlington or across Tees Valley’ (Echo, June 28))

The biggest fall in tooth decay is in non-fluoridated Scandinavia.

Scotland has cut tooth decay with its ‘ChildSmile’ scheme where young children clean their teeth each day in school. Medication should be prescribed individually, not given to whole communities with no control over dosage received.

The chemical used in water fluoridation is fluorosilicic acid - toxic waste from phosphate fertiliser factory chimney scrubbers.

It’s contaminated with arsenic, mercury and lead etc. It isn’t pharmaceutical grade - unlike that used in toothpaste.

Fluoridation is old technology, as only one per cent of tap water is drunk - most of it is used for washing and by industry, so it’s mainly public money that is being flushed down the drain.

Ann Wills, Ruislip, Middlesex.