In 2011, the Calgary City Council took the controversial step of discontinuing the use of fluoride in the city’s water supply. This decision has sparked a firestorm of an argument. New research unveils troubling dental health trends in Calgary and other municipalities that have recently discontinued fluoridation. It would seem that the increasing prevalence of tooth decay in kids would receive similar attention. Consequently, researchers and other health professionals are beginning to study the long-term impact of this monumental public health decision.
Lindsay McLaren, an energetic public health researcher, went to work recruiting dental hygienists. As a team, they evaluated the dental health of second-grade students across Calgary. When she got the inspection data back, the results were shocking. 65 percent of those inspected had tooth decay. A recent survey of Edmonton children discovered that 55 per cent of kids faced comparable dental challenges. This huge disparity indicates that Calgary’s move was likely harmful to dental health overall.
As pediatric dentist Warren Loeppky points out, we are experiencing a reversal of an amazing public health victory—reduction of tooth decay in children. Over the past 10 years, he has seen a dramatic rise in the incidence and seriousness of dental problems in children. This trend raises concerns about the future oral health of younger populations and highlights the implications of policy decisions surrounding water fluoridation.
The Context of Fluoride Removal
The decision to cease fluoridation in Calgary is not an unusual example. In Juneau, Alaska, leaders decided to stop fluoridation in 2007. In 2015, Jennifer Meyer moved to Juneau. She was soon captivated, though, by the possibilities of how her relocation could do much more to improve the health of the community. Her research sheds light on a troubling pattern. She has drawn parallels between the increased rates of tooth decay in communities without and now increasingly with fluoridated water.
A 2024 comprehensive study found that Calgary experienced a higher rate of tooth decay-related treatments requiring general anesthesia compared to Edmonton. In fact, between 2018 and 2019, Calgary had 32 per 10,000 children receiving such procedures. In comparison, only 17 in every 10,000 kids received treatment in Edmonton.
With these health impacts, financial implications have arisen. Treatments for children under six years old saw an average cost increase of $303 per child (adjusted for inflation) from 2003 to 2012. The increasing costs of untreated dental problems further add stress to families and the overall healthcare system.
“When politicians decide to withhold a safe and effective public health intervention like fluoridation, they are imposing a hidden health care tax on everyone in their state or community.” – Jennifer Meyer
Community Response and Advocacy
Given these results, public opinion on fluoride has turned in Calgary. In 2021, an impressive 62 percent of voters chose to restore fluoridation in a local referendum. Juliet Guichon led a dedicated team pushing the campaign for this significant change. She talked passionately about the need for long-term, proven public health approaches to safeguard children’s health.
This growing mobilization to reintroduce fluoride speaks to a positive dental health education effort to keep residents making informed decisions. Meyer said, “More people voted to reinstate fluoride than voted for the mayor. So that’s a success.” This sentiment reflects the community’s strong feelings toward wanting to take preventive actions against the growing dental health epidemic.
While we recognize and support the calls for reinstatement, doubts still linger in the minds of many researchers about the safety and efficacy of fluoride. In 2024, the National Toxicology Program held an independent peer review. Their main argument was that high concentrations of fluoride in drinking water might be associated with reduced IQ in children. These discoveries are more proof against fluoride’s harmful effects on public health.
“Ending fluoridation … based on weak or misrepresented evidence is not a precaution, it’s negligence.” – Jennifer Meyer
The Future of Dental Health in Calgary
If current trends continue and action isn’t taken soon, Calgary will keep experiencing the perils of children’s oral health. The bottom line, say experts, is that the evidence showing removal of fluoride causes an increase in tooth decay is getting more and more convincing.
Warren Loeppky, reflecting on his experiences with young patients suffering from dental pain, expressed concern: “It’s always sad seeing a young child in pain.” A lot of healthcare providers feel the same way. Beyond those roles, they are passionate proponents of preventive measures, including water fluoridation, to improve the health of the entire community.
The statistics about what fluoride has done for dental health are astounding. In Calgary, the average number of procedures carried out to treat tooth decay in children under six years old jumped by 2.75 times from 2018 to 2019. This increase raised the average from 1.5 treatments per child in 2003 to 2.5 treatments per child by 2012.
Cities are in the thick of doing battle with public health policies like fluoride use. Residents and experts are calling for more comprehensive studies to get a better picture of its effects. Reversing this commonsense preventive measure would be a recipe for disaster. In response, many advocates have called for additional research and are calling for a complete reversal of recently established policies.
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