Water Fluoridation : FAQ

by CDC

(Page 3 of 4)

What is community water fluoridation?

Most water supplies contain trace amounts of fluoride. Water systems are considered naturally fluoridated when the natural level of fluoride is greater than 0.7 parts per million (ppm). When a water system adjusts the level of fluoride to 0.7-1.2 ppm it is referred to as community water fluoridation. In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, adjusted the fluoride content of their water supply to 1 ppm and became the first city to implement community water fluoridation. Today, approximately 67.3 percent of the U.S. population on public water supplies has access to fluoridated water.

How does fluoride work?

Tooth decay is an infectious and transmissible bacterial disease. When a person eats sugar, or other refined carbohydrates, some oral bacteria produce acid that removes minerals from the surface of the tooth, a process that is known as demineralization. If the demineralization process continues for a period of time, a cavity is formed. If fluoride is available, the demineralization process can be reversed, thereby preventing the cavity. In addition, fluoride reduces the ability of the oral bacteria to produce acid.

Is tooth decay still a serious problem?

Yes. By age 19, more than two-thirds of U.S. children and adolescents, 91 percent of U.S. adults, and 93 percent of Americans 60 years of age and older have experienced tooth decay.

Will community water fluoridation benefit my family?

It has been demonstrated that fluoride's action in preventing tooth decay provides a benefit to both children and adults throughout their lives. The health benefits of fluoridation include a reduction in the frequency and severity of tooth decay, a decrease in the need for fillings and tooth extractions, a reduction in pain and suffering associated with tooth decay, and the obvious elevation of self-esteem that goes with improved oral functioning and appearance.

Has the prevalence of tooth decay decreased since water fluoridation began?

Yes. Independent studies initiated in 1945 and 1946 followed four communities and assessed the value of water fluoridation. By 1960, tooth decay rates in these communities declined, on average, 56 percent more than in demographically similar communities whose water supplies were not fluoridated. More recent studies show that water fluoridation will reduce tooth decay in permanent teeth by approximately 18 to 40 percent. Although this reduction in decay is not as dramatic as it was in the 1950s and 1960s, it is significant when compared to tooth decay in nonfluoridated communities.

Is community water fluoridation safe?

Yes. Extensive research conducted over the past 60 years has shown that fluoridation of public water supplies is a safe and effective way to reduce tooth decay for all community residents. More recent reviews of the safety of water fluoridation include a comprehensive review of the scientific literature by the U.S. Public Health Service in 1991 and the University of York in 2000. The overall value and safety of community water fluoridation has been endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by the U.S. Surgeon General's report Oral Health in America (May 2000), and by the U.S. Task Force on Community Preventive Services in 2001. Community water fluoridation also has been endorsed by numerous public health and professional organizations, including the American Dental Association, the American Medical Association, the American Association of Public Health, U.S. Public Health Service, and the World Health Organization.

About the Author

www.cdc.gov
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the 13 major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is the principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human services, especially for those people who are least able to help themselves.