Family physicians as advocates for community water fluoridation
Introduction
Community water fluoridation (CWF) is a safe, efficient, and inexpensive way to reduce dental cavities (also called tooth decay or dental caries) in adults and children, yet currently only 39.8% of Canadians receive fluoridated drinking water, down from 42.6% in 2007.1 However, this rate mostly captures CWF in larger cities, as it is less common in smaller communities and in Indigenous populations. Severe cavities and tooth loss are more common among Indigenous peoples, new Canadians, and people living in poverty.2,3 While oral health is not traditionally part of the work of family physicians, the link between oral health and overall health is well documented, so family physicians have a responsibility to care about it. The CanMEDS–Family Medicine 2017 competency framework states that family physicians should be health advocates, meaning they should use their expertise and knowledge to improve the health of their patients and communities.4 Family physicians should collaborate with oral health care providers, local health advocates, and elected officials to ensure all Canadians have access to fluoridated water.
