<P> Australia is one of many countries that have water fluoridation programs currently operating (see Fluoridation by country). As of March 2012, artificially fluoridated drinking water is provided for 70% or more of the population in all states and territories . The acceptance of the benefits of water fluoridation occurred in Australia in December 1953, roughly two years after acceptance in the United States . Many of Australia's drinking water supplies subsequently began fluoridation in the 1960s and 1970s . By 1984 almost 66% of the Australian population had access to fluoridated drinking water, represented by 850 towns and cities . Some areas within Australia have natural fluoride levels in the groundwater, which was estimated in 1991 to provide drinking water to approximately 0.9% of the population . </P> <P> A key difference between the implementation of drinking water fluoridation in the United States and Australia was the impact of temperature and climate on water consumption . Temperatures are a key factor in the establishment of legislative requirements, such as the Water Fluoridation Regulation 2008 in Queensland, that prescribe concentrations of fluoride to be added to the water . Consequently, areas with higher average temperatures require less fluoride to be added to the drinking water to achieve the same oral health benefits . The tropical conditions found in parts of Australia, such as Queensland, also make it difficult to maintain fluoridation equipment due to higher levels of corrosion caused by the wet climate . </P>

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