My daughter came back from the dentist the other day and reported that Vancouver does not fluoridate its water system.

Ayant grandi aux États-Unis, where water fluoridation is quite routine, I was surprised to learn of this fluoride policy.

I discovered that, according to Health Canada, moins de la moitié des Canadiens (approximativement 45 pour cent) receive fluoridated water.

Bien Health Canada supports water fluoridation as a way to reduce tooth decay, the decision to fluoridate water is a local one in Canada.

Toronto, Hamilton, Londres, and Edmonton are among the cities with fluoridated water. Water is not fluoridated in Vancouver, Victoria, Montréal, ou à Québec. Calgary previously fluoridated the city water, mais its city council voted in 2011 to discontinue the practice.

Aux États-Unis, plus de 70 percent of Americans — or more than 204 millions de personnes — on community water systems have fluoridated water.

The percentage is even higher in Australia, où environ 90 percent of the population receives fluoridated water.

Le U.K., like many European countries, has taken the opposite approach. Moins que 10 percent of U.K. residents have fluoride added to their water supply.

One of the many unexpected things you learn when you move to a new country!

Qu'en est-il que vous? What facts surprised you when you moved abroad? Please leave a comment and share your discoveries.

Photo Verre à eau par Greg Riegler Photographie (Flickr)