Town of New Glasgow to stop adding fluoride to water supply, dental association concerned

The Nova Scotia Dental Association is decrying a decision by town council in New Glasgow to stop adding fluoride to the community's water supply.

The decision was made following a recommendation from the town's assistant director of engineering and public works, according to council highlights dated Sept. 16 and posted online.

Speaking Tuesday to CBC Radio's Maritime Noon, Dr. Claire Karst, a dentist and president of the dental association, said she and other members were "quite concerned" about the possible consequences of removing fluoride from New Glasgow's water supply.

She noted that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called water fluoridation one of the top-10 greatest public health measures of the last century.

"Science has led us to realize the optimal levels of fluoride in our drinking water and what best serves to reduce tooth decay," Karst said.

A statement from the Town of New Glasgow said council voted not to add flouride to the water supply after staff said studies indicated there was no conclusive direction on the use of fluoride in delivering safe drinking water.

The statement did not specify which studies were consulted.

Health and safety

The health and safety of its workers and the general public strongly influenced the decision, the statement said. It also noted that not all municipalities in the province use or are required to use fluoride.

"The water utility will adhere to [the provincial Environment Department's] recommendations to use fluoride in [the] future provided this is a requirement for all municipalities in the province with clear guidance as a mandatory parameter with regulated limits," the statement concluded.

The council highlights said the measure is aimed at preventing fluoride from exceeding acceptable levels when combined with other fluoride sources in food, drinks and toothpaste.

Karst said while there are other sources of fluoride available, community water fluoridation provides systemic fluoridation that is beneficial to tooth protection in children.

According to Health Canada, the acceptable safe level of fluoride in water is 1.5 milligrams per litre. The agency says the optimal level of fluoride in drinking water for dental health has been determined to be 0.7 milligrams per litre.

According to a 2022 report by the Public Health Agency of Canada, about half of Nova Scotia's population receives fluoride from a community water supply.

The numbers are lower in other Atlantic provinces.

About 25 per cent of Prince Edward Island's population gets a fluoridated community water supply, and about nine per cent of New Brunswick's population receives one.

Almost no one in Newfoundland and Labrador receives fluoridated municipal water.

Phasing out fluoridated water

Some highly populated provinces like Quebec and British Columbia also had a very small percentage of the population receiving a fluoridated water supply as of 2022. 

In the case of Quebec, that number — which was only one per cent — dropped further this year as Montreal began phasing out fluoridated water for the West Island.

Explaining that decision last month, Maja Vodanovic, Montreal's executive committee member responsible for water, cited the corrosive nature of fluoride on the water system and environmental concerns. 

"We would be putting fluoride in our drinking water for washing our cars, for using in the shower, and all of this is going into the St. Lawrence [River] after, so why put all these chemicals into the water?" said Vodanovic.

Karst said her association worked with Nova Scotia Health, Dalhousie and the IWK Health Centre to prepare a resource package with a list of studies supporting fluoridation that they have sent to New Glasgow councillors inviting them to have a conversation about the issue.

They are still awaiting a response.

New Glasgow CAO Lisa MacDonald said they have not received a package, possibly due to the postal strike.

"We are relying on our science," Karst said.

"We still feel that we are not in a position to change our very committed support to water fluoridation because there has been no links proven yet that the effects of over-fluoridation happens through the delivery of fluoride through Canadian water systems."

MORE TOP STORIES