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 in a range of 0.7 to 1.2 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 file/21k
  (Updated 09/30/05)

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Additional Resources

ADA News

• ADA offers interim guidance on infant formula and fluoride (Posted 11/09/06)

ADA News Releases

• ADA Applauds Health Claim for Fluoridated Bottled Water (Posted 10/20/06)
• ADA Statement on Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's Standards (Posted 03/22/06)
• After 60 Years of Success in Fighting Dental Decay, Water Fluoridation Still Lacking in Many Communities (Posted 07/11/05)
• ADA , CDC Celebrate 60th Anniversary of Community Water Fluoridation (Posted 01/24/05)

Documents

• 2005 Fluoridation Facts (This read-only copy contains questions and answers about one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century) | PDF file/796k
  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 file/24k (Updated 06/08/07)
• Bottled Water Drinkers Beware: Are You Missing Out on Fluoride's Benefits?
  | PDF file/29k (Journal of the American Dental Association)

Statements & Interim Recommendations

• Interim Guidance on Fluoride Intake for Infants and Young Children
• 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
• National and International Organizations That Recognize the Public Health Benefits of Community Water Fluoridation for Preventing Dental Decay
  
  
• Statements From Five Leading Health Organizations Regarding
  Community Water Fluoridation | PDF file/26k

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Videos

Community Water Fluoridation
Broadband/1.7MB
Dial up/318k

Bottled Water
Broadband/1.8MB
Dial up/317k

Home Water Treatment Systems
Broadband/1.7MB
Dial up/325k

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Photographs

• Larger Image | JPG file/39k

To Download Photos:

1. Right click the image to download photo
2. Select "Save Picture As."
3. Save in desired folder

 

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