A glass of water with a blue toothbrush resting on top, enclosed in a colorful circular graphic representing dental protection

Fluoride:
A simple way to protect your smile

Fluoride in drinking water is a safe, effective, and well-studied way to help prevent cavities — especially in children.

On this page

Why Fluoride Matters for Kids

Is Fluoride Safe?

Why Dentists Support Fluoride

Supporting Parents’ Choices

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Young girl smiling and brushing her teeth with a yellow toothbrush

Why Fluoride
Matters for Kids

Children are still learning how to brush well, and cavities can start early. Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel, making teeth more resistant to decay from everyday sugars and bacteria throughout their lives.

A light blue tooth icon with water droplets dripping above it, enclosed in a dark blue circle.

Topical Fluoride

Topical fluoride only works on teeth that have already “popped” through the gums. However, the most critical years for tooth strength happen before we ever see the teeth.

A yellow tooth icon with white sparkle shapes and a white protective ring circling it, enclosed in a dark blue circle

Systemic Fluoride

Drinking fluoridated water protects the “crowns” of permanent teeth from the inside out, while they are still tucked away in the jawbone.

This means that when a child’s adult teeth finally come in (usually around age 6), they arrive with a built-in defense system already in place.

Community water fluoridation has been used for over 70 years and has helped generations of children grow up with healthier smiles.

Is Fluoride Safe?

Yes. At the levels used in drinking water, fluoride is carefully regulated and extensively studied.

The recommended safe amount is 0.7 parts per million, that’s like:

penny in $10,000

Pink number one graphic with a circular border

minute in 2 years

Orange number one graphic with a circular border

drop in about 
50 litres of water

Health and dental organizations worldwide support community water fluoridation because research consistently shows it:

Reduces cavities in children and adults
Is safe for growing bodies when used at recommended levels
Helps protect children regardless of family income or access to dental care

Like many nutrients, fluoride is beneficial in small amounts and harmful only at extremely high doses — far above what’s found in drinking water.

The recommended level of fluoride has a built-in margin of safety that takes into account the use of fluoride from other sources.

A smiling woman sitting in a dental chair holds a happy toddler on her lap during a checkup with a male dentist wearing blue scrubs and a face mask

Why Dentists
Support Flouride

Dentists see the effects of fluoride every day. Communities with fluoridated water tend to have:

Fewer cavities in young children
Less need for fillings and dental treatments
Better oral health outcomes overall

That’s why pediatric dentists and public health experts continue to recommend it as part of everyday prevention.

Supporting Parents’ Choices

Every family makes health decisions differently. Some parents choose filtered water, while others rely on community water fluoridation as a simple way to protect their child’s teeth.

Our goal is to provide clear, trustworthy information so you can make the choice that feels right for your family.

If you have questions, your child’s dentist or pediatrician is always a great place to start. Good oral health in childhood supports:

Comfort and confidence
Nutrition and speech development
Fewer dental problems later in life

Fluoride is one of the easiest ways to support healthy smiles and your children’s overall health from the very beginning.

The Facts on Fluoride

Study: Measuring the short-term impact of fluoridation cessation on dental caries in Grade 2 children using tooth surface indices

Manitoba Dentists Public Resources

Calgary Reintroduces Fluoride in Drinking Water

The Facts on Fluoride

Study: Measuring the short-term impact of fluoridation cessation on dental caries in Grade 2 children using tooth surface indices

Manitoba Dentists Public Resources

Calgary Reintroduces Fluoride in Drinking Water

Frequently Asked Questions

Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and helps protect teeth from cavities caused by sugars and bacteria. For young children — who may not brush perfectly yet — fluoride provides extra protection during critical years of tooth development.

Yes. Fluoride in drinking water is safe for babies and toddlers when used at recommended levels. It has been studied for decades and is supported by pediatric dentists and medical professionals.

Children under 3: use a grain-of-rice-sized smear of fluoridated toothpaste
Children aged 3 to 6: use a pea-sized amount
Children 6 and older: use a pea-sized amount, spitting out excess but avoiding rinsing to keep fluoride on teeth for longer

Adults should supervise to prevent swallowing.

If you have questions about infants, formula, or fluoride toothpaste, your child’s dentist or pediatrician can offer personalized advice.

Research consistently shows that fluoride at recommended drinking-water levels does not harm children’s development or overall health. Large studies over many decades have found no credible evidence of developmental harm at these levels.

Toothpaste is important, but fluoride in water helps protect teeth throughout the day, not just during brushing. Water fluoridation helps children who may have limited access to dental care or who are still learning good brushing habits.

Also, when ingested, fluoride contributes to the lattice of the tooth as it’s developing in the jaw. When children have access to fluoridated water it makes their teeth more resistant to cavities throughout their lifetime, and that’s not possible with topical application alone.

The recommended level of fluoride has a built-in margin of safety that takes into account the use of fluoride from other sources.

Your dentist can help you choose the right toothpaste and routine for your child’s age.

Many substances can be harmful at very high doses but beneficial at low ones — like iron, vitamin A, or even salt. Fluoride works the same way. The amount used in drinking water is small, carefully regulated, and chosen because it helps protect teeth without causing harm.

That’s a personal choice. Some families use water filters or bottled water. Even without fluoridated water, dentists can recommend other ways to protect your child’s teeth, such as fluoride toothpaste or professional treatments. However,y you should be aware that topical fluoridation cannot replace the benefits of ingested fluoride which supports the tooth below the gumline.

Our goal is to provide clear information so you can make the best decision for your family.

You may not have fluoride in your drinking water if:

Your municipality doesn’t fluoridate – ask your local city hall
You may have reverse osmosis or water filtration system in your home that remove fluoride from your water
You mainly drink bottled water without fluoride

To protect your oral health, you can:

Brush twice daily with a high fluoride toothpaste and remember to floss
Use fluoride mouthwash
Choose healthy drinks, limiting sugar
Follow sugary drinks with water
Add a fluoride tab to your bottled water (for instance 5 gallon jugs)- talk to your dentist for a prescription

You can also ask your dentist about topical fluoride gels or varnishes and about fluoride drops or tablets for those at high risk of cavities.

Alternatives that also remineralize teeth are Hydroxyapatite (nHAp) and CPP-ACP (Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate). However, these are only applied topically and cannot replace the benefits of fluoridated water. And while these alternatives have been studied, fluoride has been studied widely over longer periods of time. Until alternatives are similarly studied broadly and over the long term, fluoride remains the most effective and safe option.

Your dentist or pediatrician is the best place to start. They can answer questions specific to you or your child’s age, health, and dental needs.

Low-income families often face barriers to oral health care and are statistically more likely to miss school due to dental pain. Fluoridated water is passive. It protects the child’s teeth every time they drink water, make a pot of pasta, or mix baby formula, requiring no extra money or behavioral changes from the parent.

By preventing tooth decay, community water fluoridation has been shown to save money, both for families and for the health care system. Every $1 invested in a prevention measure like community water fluoridation at the optimal level can yield between $5.00 and $93.00 of savings per person in dental treatment costs (cite).

Fluoridating the water supply ensures that the “baseline” of health includes dental protection, regardless of whether a family can afford oral health care.

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