Since 1945, communities have been combating tooth decay by fluoridating public water supplies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children living in communities with fluoridated water have about 25 percent fewer cavities than children in communities without fluoridation. With rising health care costs, community water fluoridation is a cost-effective intervention to prevent oral health complications for people of all backgrounds, regardless of age, education, or income levels.
Community Water Fluoridation: One of the top ten public health interventions of the 20th century!
Let's Talk About Water Fluoridation
The Virginia Department of Health supports water fluoridation as the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay. Since its introduction nearly 80 years ago, adjusting the naturally-occurring levels of fluoride to the recommended Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) level has dramatically improved the oral health of tens of millions of Americans. In Virginia, the decision of adjusting the level of fluoride in water supplies is up to individual communities.
What You Might Hear
“Adding fluoride to water is like forcing people to take medication.”
What You Should Know
Fluoride is a natural mineral. It is not a medication. Water with added fluoride is similar to adding iodine to salt, vitamin D to milk, calcium to orange juice, and folic acid to bread.
What You Might Hear
“Studies show that fluoride is linked to lower IQ scores in children and can cause cancer.”
What You Should Know
Thousands of scientific studies and nearly 80 years of experience prove fluoridation is safe and effective. The amount of fluoride used in America’s water is safe and regulated and doesn’t lead to bad side effects. Studies around lowered IQ did not show fluoride as a cause and examined fluoride at levels more than twice the limit used in water in the United States.
What You Might Hear
“Fluoridation is a ‘freedom of choice’ issue.”
What You Should Know
Fluoride exists naturally in water, so it isn’t a question of choosing. It’s about making sure people receive the right amount. Public health decisions are made based on what benefits the entire community. Individuals can use filters to remove fluoride from tap water if that’s what they want to do.
What You Might Hear
“Other countries don’t adjust fluoride in their water and are doing fine.”
What You Should Know
Other countries that may not fluoridate their water offer fluoride in other products, like milk and salt. They also provide free and accessible dental care and nutritious meals which means they have fewer cavities. Removing fluoride needs to come with other plans to make sure everyone has good oral health, including a dentist that they can afford to see regularly, and healthy, affordable food options.
What You Might Hear
“We already get fluoride from toothpaste and too much is dangerous.”
What You Should Know
Too much of anything can be unsafe. Fluoride levels in water and toothpaste are carefully monitored and regulated – they take different approaches to oral health. Much like using seatbelts and airbags, they work together to keep us healthy.
What You Might Hear
“The federal government may ban fluoride in water.”
What You Should Know
In Virginia, each public water system makes its own decision on whether or not they will adjust the natural level of fluoride in the water they provide to their customers. Recent court decisions you may have heard about in the news were based on fluoride levels much higher than what is used in drinking water.