Years without fluoridated water show pattern of tooth decay experts warned about – CBC
New Brunswick one of few provinces where no communities fluoridate the drinking water
Jun 23, 2026
Kelly Keyes operates a busy dental practice in Saint John, having treated patients of all ages for three decades, but a decline in the oral health of her younger patients is a growing concern.
Those patients sometimes require treatment in hospital, which comes after a lengthy waiting period, adding to the overall strain on the health-care system, she said.
Keyes said the great equalizer in oral health care was the addition of fluoride in the city’s drinking water in the 1980s, protecting developing teeth from decay by strengthening enamel and suppressing plaque bacteria.
But as the Port City’s financial health came under increasing pressure, councillors looking for easy savings decided to cut the fluoridation program. The move saved taxpayers $177,000 annually but may have cost its residents much more in dental health.
