Opinion: Clear science supports benefits of fluoridation
Lisa Bosch, D.M.D., a general dentist and trustee to the Missouri Dental Association Board, detailed the critical need to maintain community water fluoridation to protect the oral health of residents in Missouri after some cities in the state ceased the practice.
In an opinion piece from The Kansas City Star, Dr. Bosch emphasized that community water fluoridation has proven effective in minimizing dental caries — particularly among individuals residing in low-income communities where access to oral hygiene products or dental clinics may be limited — as well as reducing treatment costs paid for by families, the health care system and taxpayers. Access to fluoride has also been shown to save about $32 per patient in regions with community water fluoridation and reduce the number of lost school hours for children who would otherwise have to visit a dentist to treat their dental caries.
However, she stressed that antifluoride sentiments have sparked unfounded concern over the safety of fluoride. Two recent surveys revealed that while a majority of respondents supported community water fluoridation, nearly 20% of them expressed their opposition to the practice. Even despite efforts by the antifluoride campaign to raise skepticism, an estimated 86% of Americans use fluoride, 96% of the respondents stated that they trust their pediatrician or family physician to educate them about the safety of fluoride and just 6% of them thought the practice should be banned. Since the beginning of 2025, two states have issued statewide bans on fluoridation, three states have pending legislation and sixteen states failed to pass legislation establishing policy hurdles or outright banning community water fluoridation.
As a result, cities across Missouri have brought the matter to the public. The cities of Hannibal and Crane voted to end fluoridation, while the city of Cabool will vote this month to determine whether to ban or continue the practice. Without access to fluoride in public drinking water, there could be significantly increases to caseloads that would overwhelm dentists, lengthen wait times for treatment and widen gaps in oral health disparities.
Dr. Bosch argued that local dental and medical professionals may be the most effective communicators of the safety and efficacy of community water fluoridation. Removing access to fluoride could put many residents at risk of preventable dental decay, but supporting the practice would mean “standing for safer, healthier futures for Missouri’s children,” Dr. Bosch concluded.
Read more: The Kansas City Star
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