From: H Meyers
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item #25 - Drinking Water Fluoridation Request for City Council Direction Regarding an Operating Permit Amendment from the California State Water Resources Control Board to Discontinue Supplemental Fluoridation of the City"s Drinking Water Supply
Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026 3:55:42 PM
I have lived in Huntington Beach for 30 years.
Please support the continued fluoridation of our city’s water. Water fluoridation has lowered the rate of tooth decay in the U.S., it has been proven to be safe, effective and cost-saving for preventing tooth decay. Especially since many people do not have regular access to dental care, water fluoridation is an important benefit to society. It is supported by the American Public Health Association, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, among others.
Water fluoridation has been widely studied over many years and is considered one of the most important and effective public health measures instituted in this country.
Please support continued fluoridation of our water.
Hildy Meyers
Huntington Beach
SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATION - Meeting Date: 5/5/2026 Item No. 25 (26-335) From: Kaci Christian
To: [email protected]
Subject: Stop adding fluoride to the water
Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026 8:27:07 PM
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important Dear Members of the City Council and Public Health Officials, I am writing to urge the city of Huntington Beach to immediately discontinue adding fluoride to the municipal water supply.
Health and safety concerns
Municipal floridation delivers a “one size fits all“ dose to a diverse population, including infants, pregnant people, the elderly and individuals with kidney disease who may be more vulnerable to fluoride’s harmful effects.
Evidence of harm at high or chronic exposures, such as dental fluorosis and potential endocrine or neurological effects reported in some studies, raises, reasonable concern about continuing population-wide dosing dosing without local safety assurances.
Lack of informed consent
Forcing chemicals or medication through drinking water, removes individual choice and informed consent. Residence should be allowed to decide whether they want fluoride exposure, rather than having it mandated by default.
Questionable benefit in today’s context
Most cavity prevention in current times comes from topical fluoride in toothpaste and professional dental application. The incremental benefit of systemic fluoridation for modern communities with wide access to dental care is limited and does not justify population-wide exposure.
Cumulative exposure and vulnerable subpopulations
Fluoride exposure from multiple sources, such as toothpaste, processed foods and beverages containing fluoridated water, can lead to cumulative intake that is difficult for individuals to manage, increasing the risk of over exposure— especially for young children Environmental and downstream concerns
Fluoride in wastewater and bio solids can accumulate in the environment and aquatic ecosystems. The City should not assume there are no ecological impacts of fluoridating city water.
Precautionary approach and alternatives
Given the concerns described above, I urge the City to halt fluoridation and adopt targeted, evidence-based alternatives such as City-funded school- and clinical-based topical fluoride programs; expanded access to preventive dental services for low-income families; and public education on oral hygiene, and the use of fluoridated toothpaste.
Requested actions
Immediately suspend fluoridation, pending a comprehensive, transparent study of local health data and an independent risk assessment.
Hold a public, expert-led forum to review current science, local water fluoride monitoring data and the relative benefits of targeted dental examinations or interventions.
Provide clear, up-to-date information to residents about available fluoride sources, risks to vulnerable groups and safe alternatives.
Conclusion
From an abundance of caution and respect for public health, individual choice and environmental protection, please stop adding fluoride to Huntington Beach’s water supply until independent, local and transparent analysis provides concrete proof that fluoridating the water supply is safe, necessary and beneficial for our community.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kaci Christian
Huntington Beach CA 92648
From: Zokaie, Tooka
To: [email protected]
Cc: Nour, Noha; Hanlon, Robert
Subject: Item 25: Letter for City Council
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 11:26:35 AM
Attachments: CDA_HuntingtonBeachCityCouncil_Item25.pdf
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important Hello Huntington Beach City Council,
Please see the attached letter from California Dental Association President and Orange County Dental Society President regarding Item 25 of the May 5th City Council Meeting.
Many thanks,
Tooka Zokaie ( she, her, hers)
Sr. Health Policy Analyst, California Dental Association CDA
| CDA Foundation |
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1201 K Street, 15th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
916.554.5312
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May 4, 2026 Casey McKeon, Mayor Butch Twining, Mayor Pro Tem Pat Burns, Councilman Andrew Gruel, Councilman Don Kennedy, Councilman Gracey Van Der Mark, Council Woman Chad Williams, Councilman Submitted electronically Dear Mayor McKeon and members of the Huntington Beach City Council, On behalf of the Orange County Dental Association (OCDS) representing over 2,500 local member dentists and California Dental Association (CDA), representing 27,000 member dentists throughout the state, we are writing to urge you to continue the commitment to community water fluoridation (CWF) for residents of Huntington Beach. CWF remains one of the most effective and equitable public health measures available for preventing tooth decay across all ages. Its benefits are especially important for young children, older adults, and individuals with limited access to dental care. Studies show that CWF saves an average of $32 per person annually in avoided dental treatment costs. The cost to maintain fluoridation in your system, less than $1 per resident per year, is nominal, particularly when compared to the long-term costs of untreated dental disease. Assembly Bill 733 (Speier, 1995), also known as the California Safe Drinking Water Act, mandates that public water systems with 10,000 or more service connections fluoridate their water so long as funding is available. The cost burden on individual households is negligible, yet the loss of this proven preventive health intervention would disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and widen health disparities. As numerous public health authorities, including the CDC, California Department of Public Health, and former U.S. Surgeon General, have repeatedly affirmed, community water fluoridation remains one of the safest, most cost-effective, and equitable methods for preventing dental disease. The agenda item for the May 5th meeting, posted publicly on May 1st, only realistically allowed 2 business days for community members to review the proposal, offer comments, and make arrangements to attend the council meeting. CDA urges this agenda item to be informational only to allow the community sufficient time to share their sentiments before the next city council meeting. While we ultimately strongly advocate for maintaining this disease prevention program, the short notice of the agendized item will lack appropriate community input to allow the council to make an informed decision. A best practice for considering a community water fluoridation rollback is 90 days to allow community members to consider this significant proposal to their health.
Given the very low cost and broad health impact, we believe it is entirely appropriate and fiscally responsible to continue supporting this service through existing funding systems. Maintaining CWF ensures continued protection for thousands of residents and helps avoid higher dental treatment costs down the line, including visits to the emergency department, which increase in communities that rollback community water fluoridation. We urge the city council to uphold this small but powerful investment in community health. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to the well-being of the communities you serve. Sincerely, Robert Hanlon, DMD CDA President
Noha Nour, DDS OCDS President
From: Russinof, Hollis
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: American Academy of Pediatrics Support for Community Water Fluoridation Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 1:29:08 PM
Attachments: 2026 Community Water Fluoridation Support Letter HB, CA 5.4.26.pdf Some people who received this message don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important
Good Afternoon, Mayor McKeon & Council Members
I am contacting you at the request of local health professionals regarding your upcoming consideration of community water fluoridation in Huntington Beach, California in advance of tomorrow’s City Council and Public Financing Authority meeting where the proposed removal of fluoridation is on the agenda.
The American Academy of Pediatrics supports community water fluoridation as a cost- effective means of preventing tooth decay throughout the lifespan and joins with other major medical and health organizations in advocating for this common-sense public health policy.
Many people don’t realize that tooth decay, although preventable, is the most common chronic childhood disease, 5 times more common than asthma. All too often, it leads to countless hours out of school and work, needless pain and suffering, and costly visits to the emergency room.
We support community water fluoridation because it is backed by a solid base of scientific evidence and over 75 years of practice and because it is safe and effective.
Attached you will find our letter of support. We invite you to visit our website, ILikeMyTeeth.org
, for additional information.
Respectfully submitted
Hollis Russinof, MUPP
American Academy of Pediatrics
Campaign for Dental Health
Section on Oral Health
345 Park Boulevard
Itasca, Illinois 60143
630/626-6483
Pronouns: she/her/hers (Why
?)
My regular days at the Academy are Monday through Thursday.
May 4, 2026
345 Park Blvd
Itasca, IL 60143
Phone: 630/626-6000
Fax: 847/434-8000
www.aap.org
Executive Committee
President
Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP
President-Elect
Terri D. McFadden, MD, MPH, FAAP
Immediate Past President
Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP
Secretary/Treasurer
Joelle N. Simpson, MD, FAAP
CEO/Executive Vice President
Mark Del Monte, JD
Board of Directors
District I
Patricia Flanagan, MD, FAAP
District II
Jeffrey Kaczorowski, MD, FAAP
District III
Lenore R. Jarvis, MD, MEd, FAAP
District IV
Patricia Purcell, MD, MBA, FAAP
District V
Christopher B. Peltier, MD, FAAP
District VI
Claudia Preuschoff, MD, FAAP
District VII
Susan Buttross, MD, FAAP
District VIII
Greg Blaschke, MD, MPH, FAAP
District IX
Eric H. Ball, MD, FAAP
District X
Madeline M. Joseph, MD, FAAP
At Large
Angela M. Ellison, MD, MSc, FAAP
At Large
Kristina W. Rosbe, MD, FAAP
At Large
Joelle N. Simpson, MD, FAAP
Mayor Casey McKeon & City Council Members
Huntington Beach, CA
Via email
Dear Mayor McKeon and City Council Members,
On behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a non- profit professional organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical sub -specialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults, I write to support the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the American Dental Association (ADA), and Healthy People 2030 in stating that community water fluoridation is safe, effective, and prevents unnecessary dental disease, a costly and painful condition.
The AAP is particularly concerned with the high rates of early childhood caries (tooth decay) in the United States and the detrimental effects this disease can have on children. Dental caries, although largely preventable, is the most common chronic childh ood disease, five times more common than asthma. Dental caries can lead to severe health problems, including serious infection, debilitating pain, dietary and speech problems, and in rare cases, even death.
The AAP supports community water fluoridation to help protect children’s teeth. Regular and frequent exposure to small amounts of fluoride is the best way to protect the teeth against caries. This exposure can be readily accomplished through drinking water that has been optimally fluoridated and brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice daily.
1 Community-based water fluoridation intervention optimizes the level of fluoride in drinking water, resulting in pre -eruptive and post-eruptive protection of the teeth.
The delivery of fluoride includes community-based, professionally applied, and self-administered modalities.
Water fluoridation is a cost-effective means of preventing dental caries, with the lifetime cost per person equaling less than the cost of one dental restoration. In short, fluoridated water is the cheapest and most effective way to deliver anti-caries benefits to communities. 2 Water fluoridation is effective
and inexpensive, does not require daily adherence, and benefits everyone regardless of socioeconomic status.
3 The AAP continues its mission to ensure the health and well -being of all children, and, to this end, supports local and state efforts for children to have access to safe, optimally fluoridated water. If you require additional information, please contact Gina Crosley -Corcoran, MPH at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD
President
Cc: Lauren Barone, MPH
Hollis Russinof, MUPP
1 Bright Futures Guidelines for the Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 4th Edition. 2017. 2 Fluoride Use in Caries Prevention in the Primary Care Setting. Pediatrics. Pediatrics December 2020, 146 (6). 3 Early Childhood Caries in Indigenous Communities. Pediatrics. June 2021, 147 (6).
From: Ha Lee
To: [email protected]
Subject: Fluoridation in water supply
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 2:00:40 PM
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important To the Huntington Beach City Council:
Subject: Support for Continued Fluoridation of Huntington Beach Drinking Water Dear Members of the City Council,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to express my strong support for maintaining the fluoridation of Huntington Beach’s public water supply. Removing fluoride from our city’s drinking water would be a detriment to the health and well-being of our residents.
Decades of scientific research and public health data have consistently demonstrated that water fluoridation is a safe, effective, and equitable way to prevent tooth decay and promote overall community health.
1. Dental Health Benefits:
Fluoride in drinking water has been shown to significantly reduce the prevalence of tooth decay in both children and adults. Communities that maintain fluoridated water experience lower rates of cavities, fillings, and dental-related pain. By removing fluoride, we risk an increase in preventable dental problems, which can disproportionately affect children and seniors.
2. Public Health Equity:
Water fluoridation is a proven public health measure that benefits all residents, regardless of socioeconomic status. It provides protection to those who may have limited access to regular dental care or preventive treatments. Eliminating fluoride would increase health disparities within our community, leaving vulnerable populations at higher risk for dental disease.
3. Economic Benefits:
Preventing tooth decay reduces the burden of costly dental treatments for families and the city’s healthcare system. Studies show that every dollar invested in water fluoridation saves multiple dollars in avoided dental care costs. Removing fluoride could result in higher public and private expenses for dental treatments over time.
4. Safety and Endorsement by Health Authorities:
Fluoridation of drinking water at recommended levels is endorsed by the American Dental Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization. Extensive studies confirm that it is safe and effective when properly monitored.
The continued use of fluoride aligns Huntington Beach with best practices in public health.
In conclusion, removing fluoride from Huntington Beach’s water supply would undermine decades of progress in oral health, disproportionately affect vulnerable residents, and increase healthcare costs. Maintaining fluoridation is a proven, cost-effective, and equitable public health measure that continues to benefit our entire community.
I urge the City Council to prioritize the health of our residents by keeping fluoride in our water. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Ha Lee
From: Chad Mayes
To: [email protected]
Cc: Evelyne Vutien; Natalie Vander Kam
Subject: Public Comment – May 5 Agenda Item (Water Fluoridation) Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 2:43:23 PM
Attachments: CSPD HB Fluoride Letter.pdf
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important Dear City Clerk,
Please see the attached letter from the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry regarding the May 5 City Council agenda item related to community water fluoridation.
We respectfully request that this letter be included in the official record for this item and shared with the Mayor and Members of the City Council in advance of their consideration.
Please let me know if anything further is needed to ensure timely distribution.
Thank you for your assistance.
Chad Mayes | Managing Partner | Genesi LLC
Phone: +1 760 413-9048 | www.genesi.llc
CALIFORNIA SOCIETY OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY California State Chapter American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry _ California Society of Pediatric Dentistry 808 R Street, Suite 209 Sacramento, CA 95811 Tel: (916) 231-2131 www.CSPD.org May 4, 2026 Mayor McKeon and Members of the City Council City of Huntington Beach 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 RE: Community Water Fluoridation Dear Mayor McKeon and Members of the City Council, On behalf of the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry, I am writing regarding your May 5 agenda item related to a potential amendment to discontinue supplemental water fluoridation. Our members are pediatric dental specialists who care for children across California, including many in Orange County, and serve the most vulnerable children. Some of these children have special needs, suffer from extensive dental disease affecting their heart, and are on organ transplant and heart surgery waitlists. The majority are cared for under Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal services, and they come from lower socio-economic backgrounds. We see every day what prevention looks like when it is working to prevent or mitigate the extent of this disease, and we experience firsthand the suffering of our patients who do not benefit from preventive treatments such as water fluoridation. Community water fluoridation is one of the top ten national historic public health measures that consistently reaches every child. It does not depend on insurance, transportation, or whether a family can get a dental appointment. It simply works in the background, quietly reducing the risk of tooth decay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognized community water fluoridation as one of the top ten public health achievements of the twentieth century. That designation reflects decades of evidence and real-world outcomes. Even today, fluoridation reduces tooth decay by roughly twenty-five percent in children and adults. When it was first introduced, the reductions were even greater. Just as important is who benefits. Fluoridation reaches all residents equally, regardless of income or education. For many of the families we serve, especially those facing barriers to care, it is the only consistent form of prevention their children receive. We understand the City is evaluating this issue, in part, through a fiscal lens, including approximately $160,000 in annual operating costs and potential future capital investments. Those are valid considerations. At the same time, it is important to recognize that the costs of untreated dental
California Society of Pediatric Dentistry PO Box 5081, La Quinta, CA 92248 Tel: (916) 231-2142 www.CSPD.org disease are not reflected in that calculation. Every $1 invested in water fluoridation yields roughly $20 to $50 in dental treatment savings. Thus, a $160,000 investment would result in a $3,200,000 to $8,000,0000 savings in health care costs. When prevention is reduced, the system absorbs those costs elsewhere. We see more cavities, more infections, more emergency room visits, and more children needing procedures that could have been avoided. For families, that means missed school, missed work, and real financial strain. For young children, it can mean more invasive treatment at a very early age. We also note that while naturally occurring fluoride remains in the water supply, it is not at levels shown to provide optimal protection against tooth decay. The purpose of community water fluoridation is to bring those levels to a point where meaningful prevention occurs. From our perspective, this decision is not simply about a permit amendment or an operational change. It is a decision about whether to continue a proven, community-wide prevention strategy that benefits thousands of children and families. We would respectfully urge the Council to maintain community water fluoridation and, at a minimum, ensure that there is sufficient time for meaningful public input before any final decision is made. CSPD and our members would be happy to serve as a resource if additional clinical perspective would be helpful. Thank you for your time and for your continued commitment to the health of your community. CSPD and our members would be happy to serve as a resource if additional clinical or public health perspective would be helpful. Sincerely, Natalie Vander Kam, D.D.S. President, California Society of Pediatric Dentistry Evelyne Vu-Tien, D.D.S. Public Policy Advocate, California Society of Pediatric Dentistry From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Item 26-335
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 2:56:16 PM
Once again it appears that the city council is pursuing a personal political agenda, rather than running the city for the benefit of its citizenry.
A case in point is the proposal to cease supplementing the fluoride in the municipal water supply. The stated reason is to save money, but in reality, this is not a cost savings, it's a cost shift.
There is a long and well-documented history of the benefits of the appropriate level of fluoride in municipal water supplies. It is safe and it improves the dental health of all residents. So, instead of honoring the data and continuing supplementing fluoride in our water, the council is proposing to shift that responsibility onto individual citizens.
Here is a quote from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services after their state legislature voted to ban adding fluoride to municipal water supplies:
“We recognize the benefits of fluoride to overall health. While community water fluoridation will no longer be available, there are measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of developing cavities. The law now allows pharmacists to prescribe fluoride, in addition to dentists and doctors. We encourage Utahns to have regular checkups with a dentist or healthcare provider to make sure they are doing everything they can to protect their oral health,” said Dr. Stacey Swilling, state dental director at DHHS.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps protect your teeth and bones. The amount of fluoride that is found naturally in water is different for each community. Most people in Utah live in an area where there isn’t enough natural fluoride in the water to protect their teeth. That’s why it is important to talk to a dentist, doctor, or pharmacist about how to best protect your teeth. You may need a fluoride supplement (pill or drops), varnish, toothpaste, or mouth rinse.
So health professionals are telling us that we need supplemental fluoride for dental health, and eliminating it from the municipal water supply puts the responsibility onto each individual citizen to figure out how to obtain that treatment for themselves and their families and how to pay for it from their own pocket. This will disproportionately impact those who have less resources and less access to dental health practitioners.
This also flies in the face of the public advisory vote that was taken years ago wherein the citizenry voted that they wanted the city to add supplemental fluoride to the water system.
So, as is typical of this city council, it is acting to force its personal political beliefs on all the citizens, and making us pay for the resulting damage, whether it be in health outcomes, legal fees and penalties, or the humiliation of having our city become the laughingstock of the world.
David Rynerson
From: David Thorpe
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Comment on 5/5/2026 Huntington Beach, CA City Council Agenda Item #25 -Request for City Council Direction Regarding an Operating Permit Amendment from the California State Water Resources Control Board to Discontinue Supplemental Fluoridation of the Ci...
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 3:03:37 PM
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important Council Members,
My name is David, and my family and I have been Huntington Beach residents and property owners for more than forty years. My comments are not about the substance of fluoridation, but about the governance and regional‑coordination implications of the proposed change.
My concern is the potential impact of moving Huntington Beach out of alignment with the Orange County Water District and the State Water Resources Control Board. Our drinking water system is part of a regional infrastructure network. Any unilateral change that requires a permit amendment or creates divergence from OCWD introduces regulatory uncertainty. That uncertainty can lead to administrative challenges, legal disputes, or delays in future approvals.
Huntington Beach receives its drinking water through a regional alliance supported by long‑term water‑infrastructure bonds. These bonds depend on predictable operations and cooperative governance among regional agencies. Actions that create misalignment risk undermining the value and stability of the very system the City relies on.
As a long‑term homeowner, I am especially mindful that property values in Huntington Beach are closely tied to perceptions of stable governance, predictable infrastructure management, and cooperative relationships with regional agencies. Even when the underlying issue is narrow, actions that signal conflict or fragmentation in essential services can have broader economic effects. While I understand the interest in identifying one‑time operating savings, altering a State‑issued drinking‑water permit is not the appropriate mechanism for achieving short‑term budget adjustments. If the community wishes to revisit fluoridation policy, the appropriate path is a transparent public process where residents can evaluate the issue and decide it directly.
I respectfully ask the Council to consider the long‑term governance, coordination, and stability implications of this decision, and to prioritize outcomes that protect residents and property owners.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
David Huntington Beach Resident & Property Owner
From: Rod Kurthy
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; Van Der Mark, Gracey; Twining, Butch; Burns, Pat; McKeon, Casey; Strickland, Tony; Gruel, Andrew; Kalmick, Dan; Barnes, Lisa Lane Subject: Water fluoridation
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 3:44:18 PM
Attachments: image001.png
Huntington Beach Water Fluoridation concern.doc
Importance: High
Some people who received this message don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important
To the Huntington Beach City Council:
I have been a dentist for the past 48 years and dental research & development
scientist for the past 50 years. Many of those years were spent in my dental practice in Huntington Beach near Five Points Plaza.
I am
internationally known in dentistry, as a quick internet search for Dr. Rod Kurthy will bear out. Nobody takes the oral health and protection of the people we serve more seriously than I do.
You’ve seen the letter from the Orange County Dental Society, signed by many, many local dentists. And maybe
you have thought that these dentists
signed the letter just to “protect their turf.” That the letter advocating water fluoridation is self-serving. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In the simplest of terms, dentistry is a business, as is any professional practice or firm.
I am proud of the dental profession, because unlike most businesses, we actively try to put ourselves out of business. We do this because of how sacred we hold the oath we take to protect those who put their welfare, and that of their families, in our hands. That is an awesome responsibility.
The best financial thing that could ever happen to dental practice “businesses” in Huntington Beach would
be to have you discontinue fluoridation of the
water supply. That single thing could double the income to our practices in a very short few years. Having no water fluoridation would mean not only far more cavities, very frequently in children, but those cavities would spread far faster and deeper, leading to more costly procedures – more money for us. A LOT more money.
No fluoridation would mean a far
higher rate of cavities forming around
existing fillings and crowns. That leads to the most expensive type of dentistry, namely crowns, root canals and even removal of teeth, which, in turn, means bridges, implants, etc.
Financially, your discontinuation
of water fluoridation means “Fat City” for us
dentists.
By advocating for fluoridation, we are essentially acting against our own financial interests to do what is right. We are asking you to do the same—to prioritize the long-term health of your constituents over the immediate budget line items.
I have been a dental scientist for the past 50 years, but realize that dentistry is full of scientists. And to a degree, every dentist is a scientist. Who knows more about the science of water fluoridation than dentists and dental scientists? Do you think for a moment that we are only concerned about the welfare of our patients’ mouths? No. We are concerned about the patient as a whole person. If fluoridation was found by credible sources to be harmful in any way, we would be the first to know. And the first to object to fluoridation.
And as a dental scientist for 50 years, I sure as heck would know about any credible evidence of fluoridation being harmful in any way.
I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s with no water fluoridation. When I went to the dentist, who was a general dentist (not a pediatric dentist), the reception room was always full of other kids like myself. I never wondered if my dentist would find a cavity. I just wondered HOW MANY cavities he’d find.
When I started practicing dentistry in 1978 in communities without fluoridation, I found rampant tooth decay across the entire spectrum of the communities I served. But when I returned to Southern California, where I’d grown up, and started practicing in Huntington Beach where the water supply had been fluoridated since the early 70’s, I rarely found cavities in children. I was amazed. “Wow!” I thought. “Fluoridation really does work as well as they say.”
And my own children, one age 40 and the other age 43, have never had a cavity. That’s not because as a dentist father I have the ability to provide a protective force field around them to prevent tooth decay. It’s because of the fluoridation. And my kids are mentally as sharp as whips and as healthy as can be.
So please – follow our lead. We dentists take a monumental financial hit by advocating for fluoridation. The least you could do is to take the time to think about what is really important to the Huntington Beach City Council. Is it your budget? Or is it the health and welfare of every child and adult living in Huntington Beach, including your own families?
If you at all find this concerning, you may wonder how, exactly, fluoridation works to reduce and prevent tooth decay. I think you may find this compelling.
As a scientist, I always look at the science:
What causes Cavities? The answer is ACID.
When we eat or drink anything with even a trace of sugar, the bacteria on our teeth just love to eat that sugar. And after eating the sugar, those bacteria give off a waste product from the sugar: Lactic Acid.
That acid eats away at the tooth structure, right next to those bacteria.
Bacteria hide between our teeth and in the deep grooves of our teeth. That’s why between teeth and in deep grooves is where cavities typically occur.
So, ACID is the enemy.
You’ve heard of pH. A pH of 7 is neutral. It’s not acidic and it’s not alkaline.
But once your saliva next to the bacteria goes down to an acidic pH of 5.5 because of the lactic acid, it will start eating away tooth enamel. I’m talking about regular, NON-fluoridated, tooth enamel.
But what if those teeth had fluoride attached to the enamel molecules throughout the tooth structure? When talking about teeth that have fluoride in them, that acid must be TEN TIMES STRONGER (pH 4.5) before it can start eating away tooth structure. Let me say that again… To cause a cavity in a tooth that is fluoridated requires the acid to be TEN TIMES STRONGER. The same acid that would quickly cause a cavity in a NON-fluoridated tooth will not cause damage to the fluoridated tooth.
But what about fluoride in toothpaste and fluoride treatments at the dentist?
We call that “topical fluoride”. That gets fluoride only on the very surface of the tooth enamel. And yes, that’s good. But that only gets into the tooth to the depth of about 1/7
th the thickness of one sheet of copy paper. Or 1/4 th the thickness of one human hair. It’s virtually a microscopic thickness of outer tooth surface that becomes fluoridated. The other 99.99% of tooth structure under the surface is still NON-fluoridated.
So topical fluoride alone, without fluoride in drinking water, is of relatively little benefit. But fluoridated drinking water results in teeth being fully fluoridated, through and through. Teeth that are truly protected for a lifetime.
If you’ve made it to the bottom of this message, thank you for making the effort and learning about our concerns.
Very best regards,
Dr. Rodger “Rod” Kurthy
Founder/Owner/Chairman
KöR Whitening Technologies
®
Home of the KöR Whitening System
5 Vanderbilt
Irvine, California 92618 USA
Email: [email protected]
Cellular: (949) 636-7055
www.KORwhitening.com
May 4, 2026
RE: Water Fluoridation
To the Huntington Beach City Council:
I have been a dentist for the past 48 years and dental research & development scientist for the past 50 years. Many of those years were spent in my dental practice in Huntington Beach near Five Points Plaza.
I am internationally known in dentistry, as a quick internet search for Dr. Rod Kurthy will bear out. Nobody takes the oral health and protection of the people we serve more seriously than I do.
You’ve seen the letter from the Orange County Dental Society, signed by many, many local dentists. And maybe you have thought that these dentists signed the letter just to “protect their turf.” That the letter advocating water fluoridation is self -serving. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In the simplest of terms, dentistry is a business, as is any professional practice or firm. I am proud of the dental profession, because unlike most businesses, we actively try to put ourselves out of business. We do this because of how sacred we hold the oath we take to protect those who put their welfare, and that of their families, in our hands. That is an awesome responsibility.
The best financial thing that could ever happen to dental practice “businesses” in Huntington Beach would be to have you discontinue fluoridation of the water supply. That single thing could double the income to our practices in a very short few years. Having no water fluoridation would mean not only far more cavities, very frequently in children, but those cavities would spread far faster and deeper, leading to more costly procedures – more money for us. A LOT more money.
No fluoridation would mean a far higher rate of cavities forming around existing fillings and crowns. That leads to the most expensive type of dentistry, namely crowns, root canals and even removal of teeth, which, in turn, means bridges, implants, etc.
Financially, your discontinuation of water fluoridation means “Fat City” for us dentists.
By advocating for fluoridation, we are essentially acting against our own financial interests to do what is right. We are asking you to do the same —to prioritize the long -term health of your constituents over the immediate budget line items.
I have been a dental scientist for the past 50 years, but realize that dentistry is full of scientists. And to a degree, every dentist is a scientist. Who knows more about the science of water fluoridation than dentists and dental scientists? Do you think for a moment that we are only concerned about the welfare of our patients’ mouths? No. We are concerned about the patient as a whole person. If fluoridation was found by credible sources to be harmful in any way, we would be the first to know. And the first to object to fluoridation. And as a dental scientist for 50 years, I sure as heck would know about any credible evidence of fluoridation being harmful in any way.
I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s with no water fluoridation. When I went to the dentist, who was a general dentist (not a pediatric dentist), the reception room was always full of other kids like myself. I never wondered if my dentist would find a cavity. I just wondered HOW MANY cavities he’d find.
When I started practicing dentistry in 1978 in communities without fluoridation, I found rampant tooth decay across the entire spectrum of the communities I served. But when I returned to Southern California, where I’d grown up, and started practicing in Huntington Beach where the water supply had been fluoridated since the early 70’s, I rarely found cavities in children. I was amazed. “Wow!” I thought. “Fluoridation really does work as well as they say.”
And my own children, one age 40 and the other age 43, have never had a cavity. That’s not because as a dentist father I have the ability to provide a protective force field around them to prevent tooth decay. It’s because of the fluoridation. And my kids are mentally as sharp as whips and as healthy as can be.
So please – follow our lead. We dentists take a monumental financial hit by advocating for fluoridation. The least you could do is to take the time to think about what is really important to the Huntington Beach City Council. Is it your budget? Or is it the health and welfare of every child and adult living in Huntington Beach, including your own families?
If you at all find this concerning, you may wonder how, exactly, fluoridation works to reduce and prevent tooth decay. I think you may find this compelling. As a scientist, I always look at the science:
What causes Cavities? The answer is ACID.
When we eat or drink anything with even a trace of sugar, the bacteria on our teeth just love to eat that sugar. And after eating the sugar, those bacteria give off a waste product from the sugar: Lactic Acid.
That acid eats away at the tooth structure, right next to those bacteria. Bacteria hide between our teeth and in the deep grooves of our teeth. That’s why between teeth and in deep grooves is where cavities typically occur.
So, ACID is the enemy.
You’ve heard of pH. A pH of 7 is neutral. It’s not acidic and it’s not alkaline. But once your saliva next to the bacteria goes down to a n acidic pH of 5.5 because of the lactic acid , it will start eating away tooth enamel. I’m talking about regular, NON-fluoridated, tooth enamel.
But what if those teeth had fluoride attached to the enamel molecules throughout the tooth structure? When talking about teeth that have fluoride in them, that acid must be TEN TIMES STRONGER (pH 4.5) before it can start eating away tooth structure. Let me say that again… To cause a cavity in a tooth that is fluoridated requires the acid to be TEN TIMES STRONGER. The same acid that would quickly cause a cavity in a NON -fluoridated tooth will not cause damage to the fluoridated tooth.
But what about fluoride in toothpaste and fluoride treatments at the dentist?
We call that “topical fluoride”. That gets fluoride only on the very surface of the tooth enamel.
And yes, that’s good. But that only gets into the tooth to the depth of about 1/7 th the thickness of one sheet of copy paper. Or 1/4 th the thickness of one human hair. It’s virtually a microscopic thickness of outer tooth surface that becomes fluoridated. The other 99.99% of tooth structure under the surface is still NON-fluoridated.
So topical fluoride alone, without fluoride in drinking water, is of relatively little benefit. But fluoridated drinking water results in teeth being fully fluoridated, through and through. Teeth that are truly protected for a lifetime.
If you’ve made it to the bottom of this message, thank you for making the effort and learning about our concerns.
Very best regards,
Dr. Rodger “Rod” Kurthy
Founder/Owner/Chairman
KöR Whitening Technologies
Home of the KöR® Whitening System
5 Vanderbilt
Irvine, California 92618
Email: [email protected]
Cellular: (949) 636-7055
From: Kiane Lu
To: [email protected]
Cc: Zokaie, Tooka
Subject: Expression of Concern for Protecting Community Water Fluoridation in Huntington Beach Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 3:55:44 PM
Attachments: Water_Fluoridation_Beneficial_Safe_Saves_Money.pdf You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important Huntington Beach City Council Members,
As a Huntington Beach local who has been blessed to live in the city with my family since a young age, I want to express my support for the dental professionals strong opposition to the proposed discontinuation of Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) under Item 25 Page 7 of the Tuesday, May 5th agenda. Now being exposed to the oral health issues within our communities from my experience at USC's pre-dental curriculum and Oral Systemic Health Project, I support the professional's urge for the continuation of CWF.
Further concerned for the well-being of my own family, I hope to take on as many opportunities as possible to protect the community that I grew up in. The biggest emphasis is the cost reduction from fluoridation in water for families, which would greatly benefit my family who has faced financial setbacks this year. Please feel free to review the further facts regarding fluoridation in water in the fact sheet attached to this email.
We hope that we can get your support on this drastic matter. --
Kiane Lu ('28)
Undergraduate Student Dornslife College
[email protected] 714.788.8896
Water fluoridation:
It’s beneficial, safe and saves money
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease
for adults and children in the U.S. Cavities and
toothaches often disrupt people’s lives, causing absences from school or work. In a national survey, nearly 3 in 10 young adults said the appearance of their mouth and
teeth “affects my ability to interview for a job.”
Fluoride is a mineral that exists naturally in lakes,
rivers and groundwater. However, most water supplies do not contain enough fluoride to prevent tooth decay. This is why many local water systems add a little bit more.
Water with the right balance of fluoride
prevents decay. When drinking water has the
recommended amount of fluoride, it strengthens the
enamel — the outer coating of teeth. This reduces
cavities by 25%.
Water and toothpaste with fluoride work
together, much like seatbelts and airbags in a car.
Fluoride toothpaste provides a higher concentration at
key times of the day (such as bedtime). The fluoride in water helps keep a low level of the mineral in the mouth throughout the day.
Physicians, nurses and dentists strongly
support water fluoridation. The most respected
voices in health and medicine recommend fluoridation.
These include the American Academy of Pediatrics,
American Dental Association and National Association of School Nurses.
Fluoridated water saves money for families
and taxpayers. A 2016 study showed that each
person in a fluoridated community saves $32 per year.
How? By reducing the need to treat decayed teeth.
Updated for inflation, this savings is now over $43 per person, per year.
Studies from Australia, Denmark, New
Zealand, Spain and Sweden show no link
between fluoridated water and cognitive
deficits. The New Zealand study is the only published
fluoride study that tested IQs several times during each person’s childhood and adulthood.
When fluoridation ends, tooth decay rises.
Researchers have learned what happens when a city
ends fluoridation. Calgary, one of Canada’s largest cities, stopped fluoridation in 201 1. But its city council reversed its decision after seeing a significant rise in tooth decay rates. The rate of urgent dental treatment for Calgary
children rose by 78% after the city ended fluoridation.
Preventive dental care is important, but
it cannot “replace” fluoridation. Many people
cannot afford regular dental care, and 68 million
Americans lack dental insurance. Plus, 56 million
Americans live in areas with a shortage of
dental providers.
®
Fluoridated water is safe. The largest
organization of pediatricians says the safety
of fluoridation is backed by “overwhelming
evidence.” The main concern that is raised
about fluoride is whether it might be linked
to lower IQ scores. A report by the National
Toxicology Program (NTP) linked fluoride with
lower IQ scores, but consider these key points:
• The NTP report did not link lower IQs
with the low amount present in America’s
tap water.
• Most of the studies in the NTP report were
from China, India and other countries where
populations were exposed to greater amounts
of fluoride than people are exposed to in U.S.
tap water.
• A National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering and Medicine (NASEM)
review said the NTP report failed to provide
“clear and convincing” evidence to back up
its conclusions.
From: McCune, Mary
To: [email protected]
Subject: May 5 Item 25: Fluoridation Letter from Local Constituents and Dentists Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 3:56:25 PM
Attachments: ConstituentLetter_Item25_HuntingtonBeach.pdf You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important To Whom It May Concern:
The attached letter is from over 150 local dentists and constituents who are extremely concerned about the proposal to remove fluoridation from Huntington Beach.
Mary McCune (she/her/hers)
Policy Director, California Dental Association
Executive Director, California Dental Association Foundation CDA | CDA Foundation | TDIC | TDIC Insurance Solutions
1201 K Street, 15th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
800.232.7645 | 916.554.5359 | 916.342.3609 mobile
[email protected] | cda.org | cdafoundation.org
To the Huntington Beach City Council, We, as over 150 dental professionals who serve your constituents and community members, are united in strong opposition to the proposed discontinuation of Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) which stems from cost savings of $160,000 annually to fund the program. Covering this gap would cost less than $1 per constituent per year, a minimal investment with a profound impact on the health of our entire community. The projected $6.7 million in "avoided future capital costs" is unclear, vague, and unexpectedly high compared to other systems for fluoridation maintenance. CWF is one of the most effective, equitable, and evidence-based public health measures available to prevent tooth decay and improve overall oral health. As dentists, we have seen firsthand the difference fluoridated water makes in reducing cavities, especially among children and underserved populations. Eliminating fluoridation would disproportionately harm the most vulnerable in our community who may not have regular access to dental care due to lack of insurance, transportation, mobility, etc. This decision would widen existing health disparities and undermine decades of progress in disease prevention. We urge the city council to say no to this proposal and continue supporting the health of your community. At the minimum, we request you move this agenda item to a future meeting in order to give ample time for Huntington Beach residents to share their thoughts on this proposal that would have significant impacts to their health. Maintaining this program is a shared responsibility and a vital commitment to the well-being of everyone in Huntington Beach. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue and for your ongoing service to the public. With gratitude, 1. Mai Bright Smiles 2. Surf City Orthodontics 3. Ford Dental Group 4. Tiny Tooth Co. 5. Surf City Pediatric Dentistry 6. Diamond Dental of Los Alamitos 7. Newport Hills Pediatric Dentistry 8. Santa Maria Pediatric Dental Group & Ortho 9. Elements Dentistry 10. HB Smile Camp Pediatric Dentistry 11. Splendid Dentistry 12. Tayor Cosmetic & General Dentistry 13. Anaheim Hills Dentistry 14. Harbour Dental 15. Soo and Shi Orthodontics 16. Beach Heights Dentistry Laguna Dental PC 17. Briana Chavez 18. Lily Pham, DDS 19. Lulia Bennet, DDS
20. Sona Bekmezian, DDS, MS 21. John Guijon, DDS 22. Marlene A. Miller, DMD, MMedSc23. Jonggoo Park 24. Sejin Ahn, DDS 25. Shireen Dejbakhsh, MS, DDS 26. Sophia Sawires, DDS 27. Robert Lee, DDS, MS 28. Andrew Levin DDS, MSD 29. Megan Thai DDS 30. Kelly Gibson 31. Bruce S Harris DDS 32. Ria Guzman 33. Gorden Pang 34. Joseph Henry DDS 35. Jonathan Ford 36. Chi Tran Law, DMD 37. Victor Chu, DDS 38. Vivek Patel, DMD 39. Sal Manrriquez, DDS, DABOP, FAAOP, FAHS 40. Dr. Minh-An La-Pham 41. Ayat Elsherif DDS, MS 42. andrew vo dds 43. Anna Chand 44. Dr. Joanna Jefferson 45. Hana GabrielDDS 46. Dr. Sara Saber, DDS 47. Christina Do Vu Phan DDS 48. Adam Vaghari DDS 49. Brian Tadang, DDS 50. Alice Lee-Ahn 51. Christopher Wong DDS 52. George SooHoo 53. Brandon Curfew DMD 54. Emily Dodds 55. Amir Kazim DDS FACD FICD FPFA 56. Julio Terra D.D.S. 57. James Shon 58. Hun Hwang D.M.D 59. Mariam Soldin-Wasfi DMD 60. Larry J. Diamond, DDS 61. Amelia Orduna 62. Phuong Duc Tran 63. Carol K Arima D.D.S. 64. Amirreza Rafaat DDS 65. Judy Gillard 66. Keith Tam, DDS 67. Jacki Tran, DMD
68. Rebecca L. Hart, DDS 69. Bahman Derakhshan 70. Lana Tran, DDS 71. Cynthia Scheines 72. Joyce Fang Inouye, DDS 73. Kimberly Johnson Genc DDS 74. Rex Chuang, DDS 75. Jeff Flores DDS 76. William Maginnis DDS 77. Anne E Doan Van, DDS 78. Lilley Gharavi, DMD 79. Ha Lee DDS 80. Keith Tang, DDS 81. David Telles 82. Laura Sprague, DDS 83. Dr. Kendra Brooks, DDS 84. Dr. Marinho Vanessa DDS 85. Sun Hyoung Goco 86. David H. Okawachi, DDS 87. Tiffany Thuy Trying Vo, DDS 88. Dr. Rajvee Bhakta 89. Toks Onyekwuluje 90. Calvin Le, D.D.S. 91. Andrew Lee DDS 92. Christopher Y. Shi, DMD 93. Irene Hwang DDS 94. Dr. Steven T. Bui 95. Mandeep Bal 96. Katarina Kroll, DDS 97. Ting-Wey Yen, DDS, MS 98. Kevin Quan DDS 99. Janice Hong 100. Brett Brazeal DDS 101. Richard Paul Mungo DDS, MSD, MMedEd,FACD 102. Samuel Berro DDS 103. Lisa Chang 104. Dich Lu DDS 105. Ginnie I Chen, DDS 106. Katie Ho, DDS 107. Negar Derakshani, DDS 108. Richard Hamaty 109. Aaron M. Takigawa, DDS 110. Barry D Israel, DDS 111. Rodger "Rod" Kurthy, DMD 112. Lester Lim DDS 113. John E. Elliott, DDS, DABP 114. David Hochwald DDS 115. Naz Haque, DDS 116. Susan Hill Taylor, DDS 117. Tuan Doan 118. Teresa Do, DDS 119. Melissa Ota DDS 120. Eugene J Schmidt, DDS, FACD, MAGD, FPFA, FICD 121. Robert A. Milner, DDS 122. Oarina Lowe, DDS 123. Howard Kaufman, DDS 124. Lilian Cifarelli DDS 125. Lisa J Nakagawa DDS 126. Daniel Sang Lee, DDS 127. Caroline Tran, DDS 128. Kevin Hszieh, DDS 129. Kelly McDonough, DDS 130. Cary Sun, DDS 131. Justin A. Shuffer, DDS 132. Arman Mirai Linda Phi, DDS 133. Kelly Jin DMD 134. Dr. Faisal ALdujaili, DDS 135. Richard Lee 136. Dr. James Lee, DDS 137. Akemi Arzouman, DMD, MS 138. Michael J Paquette DDS 139. Darcy Kawamoto, DDS 140. Eirene Ding, DDS 141. Jenny Liang, DMD 142. Linda Lee 143. Neda Borna 144. Teagan Willes DDS 145. Sally Mendonz,DDS 146. Niloofar Mozhgani 147. Omer Tabel, DDS, BSDH 148. Jonathan Lo, D.D.S. 149. Mylea Hunter DDS MS 150. John Mario Cargasacchi DDS 151. Israwl Ismaj, DDS 152. Khang Le 153. Kenneth Barret DDS From: onewildart
To: [email protected]
Cc: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Subject: Water fluoridation
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 4:52:55 PM
Community water fluoridation is a safe, cost-effective, and highly effective public health measure that reduces tooth decay by about 25% in children and adults. It provides equitable access to dental protection, regardless of income, saving roughly $32 per person annually in treatment costs. The CDC considers it one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century.
In other words, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’
Sent from my iPad