2026-01-12 – Weekly Dental Hygienist News : Fluoridation vote impacts public health

Last week, our community engaged in several thoughtful discussions. Members debated the merits of different orthodontic ligature materials, explored the practical application of evidence-based handouts at the chairside, and shared insights on effective programs for prevention and outreach. Continuing education (CE) opportunities also sparked interest, with many seeking courses that offer practical skills over mere certification.


This Week’s Hot Topics

City vote on fluoridation next week
This thread explores the upcoming city decision on water fluoridation. It’s a hot topic with implications for public health and dental hygiene practices in the community.
Read more here

Elastic ties or steel ligatures
A lively discussion on the pros and cons of elastic ties versus steel ligatures in orthodontics. Each has its benefits, and the community is weighing in with experiences.
Read more here

Best programs for prevention and outreach
Members are sharing successful strategies and programs that have made a difference in community dental health. This is a great resource for those looking to enhance their outreach efforts.
Read more here

Chairside evidence handouts for perio and caries
A practical look at how to use evidence-based handouts to educate patients about periodontal disease and caries during appointments.
Read more here

Baby tooth eruption pop quiz
Test your knowledge with this engaging pop quiz on baby tooth eruption patterns. It’s a fun way to refresh your understanding.
Read more here

Interdental brushes over floss — are you switching
A debate on whether interdental brushes are more effective than traditional flossing. It’s a great conversation for those considering changing their approach.
Read more here

Best CE for kiddo behavior guidance
If you’re looking for continuing education that focuses on pediatric behavior management, this discussion includes recommendations and experiences from fellow hygienists.
Read more here

Perio maintenance after SRP — what’s working
Sharing effective perio maintenance strategies post-scaling and root planing. Members are exchanging tips that have worked well in practice.
Read more here

Geriatric CE with hands-on patient handling
A valuable topic for those interested in geriatric care, discussing hands-on patient handling and CE courses that offer real-world skills.
Read more here

CE that changes practice, not resumes
Explore continuing education options that genuinely impact your practice rather than just bolstering your resume.
Read more here


Looking forward to another insightful week of discussions. Keep sharing your experiences and expertise.

Chairside win: add a QR to CDC fluoridation facts (Community Water Fluoridation | Fluoridation | CDC); prints cost ~$4/month. If pushback, include a one-page risk chart.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠‌​‌‍​‌‌‍⁠​‌‍‍​‌⁠‍‌‌‍‌⁠‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‍‌‍‍‌‌⁠​⁠‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​‌​⁠​⁠​⁠‌​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‌​⁠​‌​⁠‌​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠‌‌‌​‍​‌‍⁠⁠‌‍⁠⁠‌​‍​‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‍​‌​‌​‌​‌⁠‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌​‍‌‌⁠‍‌‌​‍‌‌​‍​‌⁠​‍​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

Quick chairside tip: open CDC’s My Water’s Fluoride during hygiene; if unavailable, cite the utility report. https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/my-water-fluoride.html.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠‌​‌‍​‌‌‍⁠​‌‍‍​‌⁠‍‌‌‍‌⁠‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‍‌‍‍‌‌⁠​⁠‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​‌​⁠​⁠​⁠‌​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‌​⁠​‌​⁠‌⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠​‍‌⁠‍‍‌​⁠‌‌‍‍⁠‌‌​​‌‍⁠‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‍‌⁠​‌‌⁠​‌‌​‍‍​⁠‌‌‌⁠​‌‌​⁠‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

After the vote we started getting more questions, so I keep a laminated half-sheet at the chair with our utility’s current fluoride level (ppm) and the report date, and I update/initial it monthly — then, if they want more, I text ADA’s “Fluoridation Facts” from our PMS instead of printing. It fits the evidence-based handouts angle and costs nothing compared to the ~$4/month prints, though I still keep two paper copies up front for the holdouts. @Kara this simple date-stamp visual has flipped a few skeptics: https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/fluoridation.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠‌​‌‍​‌‌‍⁠​‌‍‍​‌⁠‍‌‌‍‌⁠‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‍‌‍‍‌‌⁠​⁠‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​‌​⁠​⁠​⁠‌​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‌​⁠​‌​⁠‍​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‌‍‍‌⁠‌‌‌‌​⁠​⁠​‍‌‌​‍‌⁠​‍‌‌‍​‌⁠‌​‌⁠‍‍‌‍​⁠​⁠​​‌‌​‌‌​‍⁠‌​‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​