Did you know that fluoride occurs naturally in water supplies all over the world, but in varying amounts?
Fluoride is a natural mineral that can stop cavities from forming or slow their progress. It reduces decay by strengthening tooth enamel. In fact, more than 65 years of research makes water fluoridation one of the most widely studied and successful public health measures in history.
What is community water fluoridation?
Water is "fluoridated" when a public water system adjusts the fluoride to an optimal level to prevent tooth decay. Drinking water is regulated to 0.7 parts of fluoride mixed in a million parts of water (0.7 parts per million is equal to one penny in over $14,000).
Is water fluoridation safe?
Adding fluoride to water is safe and benefits everyone. As more and more communities have added fluoride to water supplies, the U.S. has seen a major decline in cavities and other dental problems.
Fluoridation has been identified as the most practical and cost-effective method of delivering fluoride to all members of a community, regardless of age, education or income. The average lifetime cost per person to fluoridate a water supply is less than the cost of one dental filling.
Organizations all over the world, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dental Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization have recognized the value of community water fluoridation to prevent dental decay.
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