Dr Ursula Suessbier, a dentist and implantologist from Germany, attends to one of the children on the first day of the clinic on Monday. (Photo by a Correspondent)
BY THE ARUSHA NEWS REPORTER
A recent study in Arumeru West District has come up with disturbing levels of dental fluorosis among Ngaramtoni Primary School children linked to drinking water contaminated by high dosage of fluoride, a natural mineral that occurs universally in soil, water and foods.
Dental specialists conducting an oral health community outreach programme found out that about 95 per cent of the children examined had some degree of fluoride-related tooth damage. The cases ranged from mild changes in tooth colour to more serious forms of fluorosis.
Dr Ibrahim Kasambala, a dental specialist at the Mbeya College of Health and Allied Sciences and the Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital, said many children also had tooth decay, gum problems and misaligned teeth.
While fluoride is widely celebrated for its ability to promote dental health, excessive intake of the mineral destroys tooth enamel, which it is supposed to strengthen, manifesting as browning of the teeth, often mistaken as aesthetic beauty in some local perceptions.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends fluoride intake of only 1.5 miligrammes per litre, but previous studies had revealed 3.6 miligrammes of the mineral per litre of water in Arusha, which was more than double the allowed concentration.
The screening at Ngaramtoni Primary School was part of a seven-day outreach programme being carried out in primary schools, children’s homes, rehabilitation centres and Seliani Hospital conducted by Tanzanian and German doctors under an initiative coordinated by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Arumeru West, Dr Johannes Lembulung’ Lukumay.
Nduruma Ward Councillor, Mr Samweli Menavi, said fluorosis was a major problem in the area that could only be solved through improved potable water quality. WHO identifies several technologies to purify water, including activated alumina, contact precipitation, bone charcoal and certain clay-based filtration methods.
