Community water fluoridation and the integrity of equitable public health infrastructure

Zokaie, Tooka; Pollick, Howard

Community water fluoridation is a population health program that is in a unique position to equitably prevent dental caries across all socioeconomic groups. A review of the 76-year long history of community water fluoridation shows that the challenges to expanding this program persist despite continued evidence of its efficacy. We offer dental health practitioners an opportunity to share the evidence of this oral disease prevention program with the communities they serve. While dental caries is still the most prevalent chronic disease that disproportionately effects lower socioeconomic status communities, community water fluoridation continues to decrease cavities by 25% at the population level. COVID-19 has reaffirmed the importance of disease prevention and valuing public health infrastructure. There is a continued need for community water fluoridation to offer equitable access to oral disease prevention interventions.