Promoting Support for Community Water Fluoridation

Messaging about the benefits, importance, and safety of community water fluoridation (CWF) vary. This study analyzed what kinds of messages effectively influenced support for CWF. Researchers found that focusing on oral health benefits, health equity, and the safety of CWF in messages significantly predicted support.

What next?

• Policy: Require these focused messages on communications from local systems to the community.
• Clinical: Collaborate across medical, dental, and behavioral providers to give consistent and effective messaging about CWF to patients.
• Community: Emphasize the oral health benefits of CWF in local advocacy efforts to ensure your local water source remains properly fluoridated.