Water Fluoridation

• Overview
• Additional Resources (Updated06/08/07)
• Videos
• Photographs

Contact Information:
Telephone: 312-440-2806
E-mail: mediarelations@ada.org (Journalists) or Contact ADA (All Others)

Overview

The American Dental Association endorses the fluoridation of community water supplies and the use of fluoride-containing products as safe and effective measures for preventing tooth decay. The US Public Health Service has established the optimal concentration for fluoride in water supplies of 0.7 parts per million (ppm).

At 1ppm, one part of fluoride is diluted in a million parts of water. 1ppm can be represented as:

1 inch in 16 miles
1 minute in 2 years
1 cent in $10,000

The average cost for a community to fluoridate its water is estimated to range from approximately $0.50 a year per person in large communities to approximately $3.00 a year per person in small communities. For most cities, every $1 invested in water fluoridation saves $38 in dental treatment costs.

Is my water fluoridated?

• http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/index.html
• http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/MWF/index.asp
  (Click on your state and find your county to learn if your water is fluoridated.
  Please note: not all states have participated)
• Which Of The 50 Largest U.S. Cities Are Fluoridated? (PDF)
  (Updated 09/30/05)

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Additional Resources

Documents

• Fluoride and Fluoridation 
• Fluoride Treatments for the Dental Office (PDF) 
• 2005 Fluoridation Facts (This read-only copy contains questions and answers about one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century) (PDF)
  Journalists interested in receiving a printed copy of this 71 page booklet should contact ADA Media Relations at mediarelations@ada.org
• 10 Reasons to Fluoridate Public Water (PDF) (Updated 10/01/10)
• Bottled Water Drinkers Beware: Are You Missing Out on Fluoride's Benefits? (PDF) (Journal of the American Dental Association)

Statements & Interim Recommendations

• ADA Statement on the Safety of Community Water Fluoridation 
• ADA Statement on the Effectiveness of Community Water Fluoridation 
• ADA Press Statement: ADA Reaffirms Support of Water Fluoridation
• Statements From Six Leading Health Organizations Regarding
  Community Water Fluoridation (PDF)

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Videos