31 July 2023 

Water fluoridation has become one of ADA NSW’s top three advocacy priorities since it came to the attention of our Advocacy Committee that some rural communities have had their water fluoridation disrupted or ceased, sometimes for prolonged periods without notice to the community.

ADA NSW recently conducted a Water Fluoridation Workshop with the NSW Health Water Unit (Sandy Leask), the Department of Planning and Environment – Water (Josh Tickell) and the Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW (Graeme Liston, Dr Lanny Chor – via Zoom). 

ADA NSW President Dr Rohan Krishnan, CEO Jae Redden, COO Dr Bill O’Reilly, Board Director Dr Jodie Olivier and Advocacy Committee member Dr Sophie Halpin used this opportunity to explore the challenges involved with rural water fluoridation and how to prevent disruptions to fluoridation in the future.

Sandy and Josh gave a comprehensive overview of the water fluoridation process including difficulties such as maintenance, repair, insufficient staff and reporting processes. ADA NSW and COHS NSW discussed the “perfect storm” that lack of fluoridation becomes when combined with cost of living pressures, lack of access to dental services and lack of dental advocates, especially in rural areas.

Acknowledged as a complex problem requiring multifactorial solutions, a broad scope of opportunities were raised including rural incentivisation, water fluoridation advocacy through NSW/ACT Divisions and Study Groups and embedding oral health into school curriculums.

ADA NSW considers community water fluoridation as a safe, effective and equitable means of preventing dental decay in children, adolescents and adults. The fluoridation of community water supplies is an effective way to deliver fluoride to all members of the community, regardless of age, individual motivation or socioeconomic status. Click here for resources in support of water fluoridation.