News from the Capitol

The Legislative Insider is published during the Legislative Session by the Georgia Dental Association. It contains updates on the activities of GDA's Government Affairs team as well as information about bills relevant to dentists and patient care.

Stay Focused on the Fluoridation Facts

Jul 22, 2025
New materials designed to keep the facts about community water fluoridation front and center.

The American Dental Association (ADA) and the Georgia Dental Association (GDA) are now offering several new materials designed to keep the facts about community water fluoridation front and center.


Fluoridation Facts

One of the most comprehensive books on community water fluoridation is ADA’s Fluoridation Facts. The 2025 edition updates key sections related to research on water fluoridation’s health effects and recent conversations about them. It continues to emphasize that the overwhelming weight of credible scientific evidence indicates that community water fluoridation remains safe and effective. It provides a detailed overview of research examining the impact of fluoridation on children’s IQ, a topic that has recently reentered the spotlight thanks to legislation ending community water fluoridation in Florida and Utah.


Fluoridation Facts provides plenty of background, and it includes detailed citations for further reading. The book is laid out in an easily digestible question and answer format, and it focuses on topics such as the history, effectiveness and benefits, safety, fluoridation practice, public policy, and cost of community water fluoridation. For those short on time, it also includes a short executive summary covering the basics.


ADA Health Policy Institute’s Latest Look at Fluoridation

ADA’s Health Policy Institute (HPI) recently published a brief looking at the cost of ending community water fluoridation. Leveraging a recent cost effectiveness analysis on ceasing water fluoridation published in JAMA, HPI’s team calculated expected expenditures for children and adults state-by-state. HPI’s analysis suggests that Georgia would see an additional $2 billion in dental costs over the 5-year period following a cessation of community water fluoridation. In addition to their analysis, HPI also provided narratives about the consequences experienced by places that have chosen to end water fluoridation.


Policy Resource Page

GDA maintains a collection of resources for members interested in learning more about health policy. The page is divided into sections based on topic, and there is a dedicated collection of materials related to fluoride. Each section receives updates with new content on a regular basis. The fluoride section includes articles on the latest research as well as advice for addressing fluoride misinformation.


Advocating for Community Water Fluoridation

Next year could be a pivotal year for community water fluoridation in Georgia. Florida and Utah banned water fluoridation in their most recent legislative sessions, and other states have also considered laws banning fluoridation as well. GDA relies on member dentists to help keep an eye out for action at the local level. To help contribute to ongoing advocacy, sign up as a contact dentist, give to GDAPAC, and attend events like district legislative receptions and LAW Day.