Health professionals need to "stop flogging the dead horse of fluoridisation" and take a wider approach to dental health, according to a Whanganui District Health Board member.
Judith MacDonald, who is also the chief executive of the Whanganui Regional Health Network, said she would like to see pop-up dental clinics offering free dental care to people of all ages.
Mrs MacDonald, speaking at a WDHB committee meeting on Friday, said while the WDHB's oral health strategy was to be commended, it needed to focus on more than fluoridation.
"Fluoridisation is just one of many measures we should use. I'm not sure that [having fluoride added to drinking water] is a battle that can ever be won - there will always be opposition to it."
WDHB's general manager, Tracey Schiebli, said 18 Wanganui dentists had been surveyed about whether they agreed with putting fluoride in drinking water.