Calgary reintroduces fluoride to water supply after 14 year gap amid rising tooth decay

Calgary has resumed adding fluoride to its municipal water supply, nearly 14 years after the city council voted to stop the practice.

The move follows a 2021 plebiscite in which over 61 percent of Calgarians voted in favor of reintroducing fluoride, a measure endorsed by major health organizations, including Alberta Health Services and Health Canada, as a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay.

The city had fluoridated its water for two decades, from 1991 to 2011, before the council voted 10–3 to discontinue the practice, citing cost and debate over health benefits. But recent data swayed both public opinion and some city councillors.


Ward 9 Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra, who had previously voted to remove fluoride, said the decision was based on mounting evidence showing deteriorating dental health, especially in children. “We took it out as a cost-saving measure, and I think in retrospect it was a mistake,” Carra said. “We had 10 years of data that showed that taking fluoride out of the water did have a negative impact on the dental health of our city.”

A University of Calgary study in 2021 showed higher rates of cavities among Grade 2 students in Calgary compared to Edmonton, where fluoridation has remained consistent since 1967.

Benefits of fluoride

Experts say fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, making it more resistant to acid and decay. “It becomes part of the dental structure,” said Dr. James Dickinson, professor of family medicine and community health sciences at the University of Calgary. “The fluoride actually gets into it and makes it a stronger compound.”

The city has invested $28.1 million to install new fluoridation equipment at the Glenmore and Bearspaw water treatment plants, with an expected annual operating cost of $1 million, covered through local water rates.

The target level of 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per litre of water is based on Health Canada’s recommended standard. Officials say the amount is well below harmful levels and does not alter the taste, color, or smell of the water.

The change will also affect surrounding communities served by Calgary’s water system, including Airdrie, Chestermere, Strathmore, Tsuut’ina Nation, and parts of Foothills and Rocky View counties.

Juliet Guichon, president of Calgarians for Kids’ Health and a professor at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, called the move “a victory for public health and democracy.”

“Voters value their health and expect elected officials to support it,” she said. “Over time, we will see the benefits in a reduction of cavities.”

The reintroduction of fluoride in Calgary aligns with cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Red Deer, and Lethbridge, which continue to fluoridate their water in line with public health guidance.