THERE is an increasing agitation by dentists regarding the declining dental health of our children. This is primarily due to the high sugar content of their diet and poor dental hygiene.

Unfortunately compulsory addition of fluoride to the public water supply is not the answer.

Quoting from evidence published in the last five years: "In India they found that only one part per million of naturally fluoridated water supplies causes extensive dental fluorosis (discoloration and striation of teeth) and more that four parts per million causes crippling skeletal malformations. Similar evidence has been found in China - four parts per million has been found to cause a definite reduction in children's intelligence and an adverse effect upon kidney and liver function.

Recently more than 400 professionals around the world have signed a petition insisting that the maximum permitted level of fluoride in drinking water should be reduced to below four parts per million. This is for many excellent reasons.

So if we already have 0.5 parts per million of fluoride in the local Ampress Well, Lymington, what is the point in risking our health by adding fluoride to our precious drinking water?

ANTHONY D FOX, chairman, Dorset and New Forest Safe Water Society.