This National Public Health Week, we are reminded that public health is built on a foundation of trust—trust in science, in institutions, and in one another, where transparent and evidence-based communication and community engagement build the power of individuals, families, and communities to make informed decisions around their health. But that trust is under attack.

Earlier this week, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to instruct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending community water fluoridation—a safe, evidence-based public health measure that has dramatically reduced cavities, improved oral health, and saved communities billions in treatment costs over time. While Kennedy lacks the authority to ban fluoridation outright, this shift in federal guidance—especially when paired with disbanding the CDC’s Division of Oral Health—sends a dangerous message and opens the door for other states to follow Utah’s lead in banning fluoridation altogether. 

It’s a decision rooted not in science, but in disinformation. 

From Vaccines to Fluoridation: The Cost of Manufactured Doubt 

The fluoridation backlash is the latest chapter in a growing trend of public health decisions shaped by fear, not facts. We’ve seen this story before—with vaccines, reproductive health, and COVID-19. 

According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation cost the U.S. economy between $50 million and $300 million each day. The same dynamics are now playing out with fluoridation: conspiracy-laden rhetoric, politicized science, and coordinated misinformation campaigns are leading communities to reject proven public health tools. The result? Higher rates of preventable illness, soaring health care costs, and a deeper erosion of public trust. 

The Stakes for Health and Economic Justice 

Community water fluoridation isn’t just about healthy teeth; it’s about equity.

The federal government’s own Oral Health in America report—commissioned under the first Trump administration—made this clear:

“Living in a predominantly fluoridated county reduced the magnitude of income disparities in dental caries. Efforts to expand fluoridation in counties with high concentrations of families with lower income could yield greater benefits in reducing both dental caries and income disparities.”

Oral Health in America Report

Ceasing fluoridation disproportionately harms communities with low incomes and communities of color—those who are less likely to have access to private dental insurance and preventive care. It increases the likelihood of missed school days, lost income, and chronic pain—consequences that compound over a lifetime. While many rural residents rely on private wells and thus don’t have access to community water fluoridation, rural communities still face the compounding impacts of limited access to care, high rates of unfluoridated water, and worsening dental workforce shortages. As KFF notes, the overlap of “fluoride-free zones” and “dental deserts” creates a perfect storm of barriers that jeopardize health and economic well-being—fueling a cycle where poor oral health drives more serious health issues, higher costs, and reduced quality of life.

And as more communities roll back fluoridation due to misinformation, the downstream costs will be measured not just in cavities—but in rising dental treatment costs, stressed public health systems, and widening disparities. 

We Need a Community-First Public Health Response 

At Community Catalyst, we believe in Community-First Public Health— a community-driven strategy that centers the lived experience, wisdom, and needs of the people most affected by policy decisions. It is a comprehensive public health strategy that includes not only protecting evidence-based interventions like fluoridation, but actively investing in community power, education, and organizing to counteract disinformation at its roots, expand access to dental services, and protect the overall well-being of all communities. 
 

We call on policymakers, philanthropy, and public health leaders to: 

  • Reaffirm support for community water fluoridation as a critical public health measure.
  • Invest in community-led engagement strategies that build trust and counter misinformation.
  • Expand access to dental care—especially in underserved communities.
  • Restore and strengthen oral health infrastructure at the federal level.
     

When public health decisions are made without community input, science, or accountability, it’s not just policy that suffers—it’s people. 

We know the outcomes of ceasing community water fluoridation. We also know the solutions. Now is the time to strengthen—not silence—community voices, trusted science, and the infrastructure that protects our health.

This National Public Health Week let’s recommit to putting power and prevention back where they belong: in the hands of communities. 

At Community Catalyst, we’re proud members of the Campaign for Dental Health, a national coalition led by the American Academy of Pediatrics working to ensure all communities have access to community water fluoridation.

We encourage you to learn more, share trusted information, and join us in standing up for oral health equity.