1. What do we know about fluoride and fluoridation?

• Fluoride exists naturally in nearly all water supplies. Water is “fluoridated” when a public water system adjusts the fluoride to a level that is optimal for preventing tooth decay.
• About 74 percent of Americans whose homes are connected to public water systems receive fluoridated water. However, more than 72 million Americans do not have access to drinking water that is fluoridated to prevent decay.

2. Does fluoridated water prevent tooth decay?

• Yes. Research proves that fluoridation reduces tooth decay by about 25 percent. As the rate of fluoridation steadily increased in the U.S., the average number of decayed, filled or missing teeth among 12-year-olds fell 68 percent between 1966 and 1994.
• The evidence supporting fluoridated water’s effectiveness has been building for decades—and recent studies strengthen earlier findings:
  • A New York study (2010) revealed that low-income children in less fluoridated counties needed 33 percent more fillings, root canals, and extractions than those in counties where fluoridated water was common.
  • A study of Alaskan children (2011) showed that kids living in non-fluoridated areas had a 32 percent higher rate of decayed, missing or filled teeth than kids in fluoridated communities.
  • A Nevada study (2010) examined teenagers’ oral health and found that living in a community without fluoridated water was one of the top three factors associated with high rates of decay and other dental problems.
  • A study of Illinois communities (1995) reviewed changes in decay rates during the 1980s. This study concluded that water fluoridation was “the dominant factor” in the decline of cavities.
  • Teenagers living in non-fluoridated areas of Ireland had an average rate of decay or related dental problems that was 52 percent higher than those living in fluoridated communities.

• Research demonstrates the long-term benefits of fluoridation. A 2010 study confirmed that the fluoridated water consumed as a young child makes the loss of teeth (due to decay) less likely 40 or 50 years later when that child is a middle-aged adult. The coauthors wrote that this study “suggests that the benefits of [fluoridation] may be larger than previously believed and that [fluoridation] has a lasting improvement in racial/ethnic and economic disparities in oral health.”

4. Does fluoridation also benefit adults or only children?

• Tooth decay is a health problem throughout one’s lifespan. Nearly all (96 percent) of middle-aged adults have had tooth decay and the rate of new decay per year is at least as high for adults as it is for children.
• Fluoridation benefits people of all ages. A 2007 report examined 20 studies to estimate fluoride’s impact on adult teeth, and the report concluded that fluoridated water reduced decay by 27 percent.
• Seniors benefit from fluoridation, partly because it helps prevent decay on the exposed root surfaces of teeth—a condition that especially affects older adults.

5. Is fluoridated water still needed?

• Yes. Fluoridation remains critically important. Tooth decay is widespread, affecting more than 90 percent of Americans by the time they reach their adult years.
• At a time when more than 100 million Americans lack dental insurance, fluoridation offers an easy, inexpensive preventive strategy that everyone benefits from simply by turning on their tap.
• Although Americans’ dental health has improved considerably in recent decades, tooth decay and other oral health issues remain a challenge. A 2010 study revealed that nearly one out of seven children aged 6 to 12 years had suffered a toothache over the previous six months.
• Even the U.S. armed forces recognize the need for fluoridated water. A senior official with the Department of Defense called tooth decay “a major problem for military personnel” and notes that fluoridation will “directly reduce their risk for dental decay and improve [military] readiness.” Most military bases have provided fluoridated water for decades.
• Fluoridated water is also the most inexpensive way to provide fluoride. The per-person annual cost of fluoride rinse programs is roughly double the cost of fluoridated water. The per-person annual cost of fluoride supplements is more than 70 times higher than fluoridated water. Fluoride varnishes or gels also cost more than providing fluoridated water.

7. Exactly how does fluoride work to prevent tooth decay?

• The fluoride in drinking water works in two ways. For people of all ages, it works topically on tooth surfaces. Fluoride mixes with saliva, and when the saliva neutralizes acids produced by bacteria on teeth, the fluoride joins the enamel crystals on the tooth surfaces, healing and protecting the teeth from further decay.
• Fluoridated water works systemically when it’s swallowed by young children while teeth are forming. Fluoride combines with the calcium and phosphate of the developing teeth and makes them more resistant to decay, especially during the first few years after they come into the mouth. Research has confirmed that systemic use of fluoride increases the concentration of fluoride in the surface enamel of teeth.

8. If fluoridation is effective, why are people still getting cavities?

• Fluoride in various forms has reduced tooth decay, but fluoride alone cannot guarantee someone a life without any cavities. Diet and nutrition play a role, and so do other factors — like the frequency with which people get routine dental care. But we know from decades of research that fluoridation does reduce the rate of decay.More than 100 million Americans have a drinking water supply that is not fluoridated to the optimal level that helps prevent decay. Getting fluoridated water to more U.S. residents would help reduce the incidence of decay.

10. Is ending fluoridation a way to save tax dollars?

• No. In fact, ending fluoridation imposes a hidden “tax” on families and taxpayers because it is likely to increase their dental expenses to treat decayed teeth. The evidence proves that fluoridation is inexpensive to maintain and saves money down the road. The typical cost of fluoridating a local water system is between 40 cents and $2.70 per person, per year—less than the cost of medium-sized latte from Starbucks.
• For most cities, every $1 invested in water fluoridation saves $38 in dental treatment costs. A 2003 study in Fort Collins, Colorado, estimated that if the city discontinued fluoridation, it would cost its residents more than $534,000 per year. In 2003, water fluoridation saved Colorado nearly $149 million by avoiding unnecessary treatment costs. The study found that the average savings in these fluoridated communities were roughly $61 per person.
• Scientists who testified before Congress in 1995 estimated that national savings from water fluoridation totaled more than $3.8 billion each year.
• Taxpayers save money because fluoridation reduces Medicaid expenses on dental treatments. Studies in Texas and New York have shown that states save approximately $24 per person, per year in Medicaid expenditures because of the cavities that were prevented by drinking fluoridated water.

11. Has the momentum shifted against water fluoridation?

• No. Although it’s true that some communities have chosen to stop fluoridating over the past year, the overall trend shows a continued increase in the number of Americans who receive fluoridated water. Between 2000 and 2008, an additional 34 million Americans gained access to fluoridated drinking water.
• Since 1992, the percentage of people on public water systems who receive fluoridated drinking water has risen from 62 percent to 72 percent. The rate of this increase has picked up in the past eight years.
• Since January 2011, Arkansas has enacted a state law guaranteeing access to fluoridated water for an additional 640,000 residents, and a water board in San Jose, Calif., has voted to fluoridate its water. The California vote means that more than 280,000 additional people will eventually gain access to fluoridated water.

13. Should we do more studies on fluoridation before continuing this practice?

• More than 3,000 studies or research papers have been published on the subject of fluoridation, meaning few topics have been as thoroughly researched as fluoride. The overwhelming weight of the evidence—plus more than 65 years of experience—supports the safety and effectiveness of this public health practice.
• It’s doubtful that even a hundred new studies would convince the anti-fluoride activists to reconsider the misleading attacks they make against fluoridation.
• Although additional studies are always welcomed, the existing research—including several studies in the past decade—provides solid support for fluoridation. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has written, “For many years, panels of experts from different health and scientific fields have provided strong evidence that water fluoridation is safe and effective.”

14. I read something on the Internet about a condition called “fluorosis.” Is that a reason not to fluoridate drinking water?

• No. Nearly all fluorosis in the U.S. is a mild, cosmetic condition that leaves faint white streaks on teeth. It doesn’t cause pain, and it doesn’t affect the health or function of the teeth. In fact, it’s so subtle that it usually takes a dentist to even notice it.
• Experts believe that in many cases fluorosis occurs because young children consume toothpaste while brushing their teeth. This is why dentists and health officials recommend that parents supervise young children while they are brushing their teeth. A study published in 2010 found that mild fluorosis was not an adverse health condition and that it might even have “favorable” effects on overall health. That’s why the study’s authors said there was no reason why parents should be advised not to use fluoridated water in infant formula.

16. Should the public vote on whether to fluoridate local water systems?

• The health and well-being of Americans is a national concern. However, state laws and city ordinances determine the process for how a community decides whether to fluoridate. The key is to ensure that those making this decision are relying on sound, scientifically accurate information.
• Elected officials make a wide range of decisions about health issues. We feel comfortable having them set policies on water fluoridation, and we want to ensure they understand fully what the science shows before setting those policies.