The Global Voice for Children's Oral Health

Principle #8: Parental attitudes drive behaviour Address beliefs, not just information. Long-term prevention depends on how parents feel about fluoride Providing correct information alone is

Principle #7: Trust signals matter: Communication goes beyond words How you communicate affects outcomes. Trust is conveyed through behaviour, not just words. Parents decide whether

Principle #6: Prevention communication should be tailored and direct One message, adapted to the family. Adapt the emphasis, not the evidence. Parents enter conversations with

Principle #5: Simplify and demonstrate: Plain language builds confidence Clarity builds confidence. Make fluoride easy to understand and easy to see. Parents feel more confident

Principle #4: Move beyond myth-busting: Reassure and reframe Avoid confrontational myth-busting. Frame fluoride asnormal and protective, not something to defend. When parents raise concerns shaped

Principle #3 Listen first: When hesitancy surfaces, guide, don’t persuade. When a parent raises a concern, shift from explainingto listening Continuing to persuade or “convince”

Principle #2: Strong recommendations build trust Make the recommendation clear, calm, and unambiguous Parents take cues from how confidently and clearly a clinician recommends preventive

Principle #1: Approach with confidence: Make fluoride the default, not a debate Make Prevention theDefault Position fluoride as standard preventive care, rather than a controversial