For decades, water fluoridation has played a key role in improving the oral health of North Americans, experts say, but the practice is coming under scrutiny in some communities as opponents gain new prominence in the U.S., pointing to research that cautions about the risks of exposure to the mineral in high doses.
A low level of fluoride has been added to tap water in parts of Canada and the U.S. since the 1940s to help reduce tooth decay and cavities.
It varies by region and municipality – most British Columbia, Newfoundland and Quebec communities, for instance, do not fluoridate water, while the majority of Ontarians live in places where water is fluoridated.
Recently, opponents have questioned the science that supports this practice, including U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s pick for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who says he plans to put an end to water fluoridation in the United …