AGD Urges Continue Support for Community Water Fluoridation

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) expresses disappointment with the recent decision by U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to halt its recommendation of including fluoride in community water supplies. The organization says this recommendation overlooks a long-standing body of established scientific research that continues to underscore the public health benefits of water fluoridation. This decision also disregards dental and health organizations' overwhelming support of water fluoridation and the role it plays in improving public health for children and adults.

“The decision to add fluoride to community water supplies has been the foundation of public health policy for decades,” said Chethan Chetty, DDS, MAGD, president of the Academy of General Dentistry. “During this time, CDC has backed fluoride as one of the most effective methods for preventing tooth decay, particularly in underserved communities. As gatekeepers to oral health, general dentists continue to witness the benefits of water fluoridation in reducing cavities, particularly in children.”

While opponents of fluoride often cite studies such as those conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), it is critical to point out that the research referenced was conducted overseas, where fluoride exposure levels far exceed the safe, recommended concentration of 0.7 mg/L used in U.S. community water supplies. The authors of the NTP report specifically state, “It is important to note that there were insufficient data to determine if the low fluoride level of 0.7 mg/L currently recommended for U.S. community water supplies has a negative effect on children’s IQ.”[1] This clarification underscores that the concerns raised by the study are not applicable to the levels of fluoride found in U.S. tap water.

In addition to the NTP study, research from cities like Juneau, Alaska, and Calgary, Canada, which recently discontinued community water fluoridation, further supports the need for careful consideration by public health leadership. Studies have shown a marked increase in dental caries (tooth decay) in both communities following the cessation of fluoridation. The Juneau study, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, found that caries rates increased significantly after the end of water fluoridation.[2]  Similarly, research from Calgary demonstrated a troubling rise in tooth decay rates in children following the city’s decision to stop fluoridating water.[3] Calgary just reinstated fluoride in their water in response to increased dental issues.[4] These studies clearly illustrate the role of water fluoridation in preventing dental decay and protecting oral health.

“As a dentist and advocate for oral health, I have seen firsthand how fluoride reduces the risk of dental decay,” said Chetty. “Discontinuing the recommendation for water fluoridation risks undoing decades of progress in preventing dental disease. I strongly urge Secretary Kennedy and the CDC to uphold their commitment to a scientific evidence-based decision and continue recommending community water fluoridation to protect the health of all Americans.”

The AGD remains committed to supporting scientific evidence demonstrating water fluoridation's safety and effectiveness. The organization urged Secretary Kennedy and the CDC to base their policies on rigorous, peer-reviewed research and prioritize the oral health and well-being of all Americans.

For more information on AGD’s position on water fluoridation, please visit our website at www.agd.org.