Utah Town Votes to Keep Community Water Fluoridation by a Landslide

In a recent special election in Brigham City, Utah, residents voted overwhelmingly to retain fluoride in their water supply. Proposition 3, which aimed to remove fluoride from the drinking water of the 20,000-strong community, was defeated. The proposal, initially considered as a way to cut costs, became a focal point for community activism. The coalition supporting fluoride included professionals from academia, Utah Dental Association, and various community members. The effort involved education campaigns, with the Utah Oral Health Coalition playing a significant role in spreading awareness about the benefits of fluoridated water. Fluoride proponent Randell M. Capener, DMD, a local dentist, highlighted the misguided nature of the cost-cutting proposal and emphasized the oral health differences between communities with and without fluoridated water. The American Fluoridation Society contributed to the campaign by advising local stakeholders on effective strategies for advocating for community water fluoridation. Letters to the editor, supporting the retention of fluoride, flooded local newspapers. The victory in Brigham City reinforces the importance of community-led efforts to preserve water fluoridation, recognized by the American Dental Association as a safe and effective means of preventing dental caries for both children and adults. Click here to read more.