Jefferson County’s health officer is among advocates for fluoride in drinking water who have been speaking up since Central Alabama Water announced last week that it will no longer add the chemical widely hailed as keeping children out of dental offices.

Dr. David Hicks issued a statement this week saying fluoridation is one of the most extensively studied health interventions in history. When fluoride is maintained at recommended levels, it strengthens tooth enamel and reduces the risk of cavities across one’s lifespan, he said.

“When public health works well, most people never notice. We expect our water to be safe, our food to be inspected, and our communities to support health — not illness,” Hicks wrote. “Community water fluoridation is one of those behind-the-scenes protections, and in Jefferson County, it remains an important part of keeping our families healthy.

CAW announced last week that it would stop adding fluoride to the water because of financial and operational reasons. “This change reduces chemical handling risks for our employees, eliminates the use of aging equipment and allows us to focus resources on delivering safe, reliable and exceptionally high-quality drinking water,” CAW CEO Jeffrey Thompson said in a statement.

Fluoridation systems at CAW’s water treatment plants are near the end of their useful life cycles and eventually would require replacement at a cost of nearly $4 million, the statement said. Recurring maintenance costs have been more than $250,000 per year.

Mayor Randall Woodfin likened this most recent cost-saving measure to a major threat to public health. “A water utility is supposed to deliver safe water and act in the public interest,” Woodfin said on a Facebook post dated March 20, “It is not supposed to moonlight as a testing ground for pseudoscience.”

State Rep. Patrick L. Sellers, D-Pleasant Grove, in a letter dated Monday urged CAW to continue with fluoridation in the water. Sellers said fluoridation is a safe and equitable proactive measure that “reduces long-term healthcare burdens on families and public systems alike.”

Hicks agreed. He said that fluoridating drinking water is essential for public health despite it being common in many toothpastes.

“Fluoridated water provides continuous, passive protection, benefiting everyone who drinks it — regardless of income, insurance status or ability to see a dentist,” Hicks argued. “When communities discontinue fluoridation, cavity rates reliably rise, particularly among children and low-income families.”

In its statement, CAW acknowledged that concerns have arisen in some groups about lifetime fluoride consumption, and it said many people get fluoride through toothpaste and mouthwash. But it said the decision to stop adding fluoride to the water did not indicate it was taking a position in the scientific debate but rather was made for financial and operational reasons.