Reprinted from ADA Morning Huddle, July 8, 2025:
Following Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s ‘Make Oklahoma Healthy Again’ initiative, many public health experts are weighing in on the importance of community water fluoridation.
Through the initiative, Gov. Stitt is directing the Oklahoma State Department of Health to stop recommending fluoride in public water systems, a move dentists are speaking out against. Tamara Berg, D.D.S., vice president of the American Dental Association and past president of the Oklahoma Dental Association, said removing fluoride from the water will result in more cavities, especially in rural and low-income populations.
“We don’t have the workforce to handle all the cavities that are there and by removing water fluoridation, we’re just going to see an increase and that’s going to make our dentists busier and make people suffer more and miss more days of school and out of work,” Dr. Berg said in an interview with News 4.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health said in a statement that while the decision to participate in water fluoridation in the state has always been made locally, it recognizes “there are evolving concerns about what constitutes a safe level while providing dental health benefits.” The ADA said it continues to support community water fluoridation as a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay.
Read more: Oklahoma’s News 4
