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The effectiveness of water fluoridation has
been documented in scientific literature for
well over 55 years. Even before the first community
fluoridation program began in 1945,
data from the 1930s and 1940s revealed 50-60%
lower tooth decay rates in children
consuming naturally occurring, optimally fluoridated
water compared to children
consuming fluoride-deficient water. Since that
time, numerous studies have been
published making fluoridation one of the most
widely studied public health measures in
history. Studies prove water fluoridation continues
to be effective in reducing tooth
decay by 20-40%, even in an era with widespread
availability of fluoride from other
sources, such as fluoride toothpaste.
In April
1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) proclaimed
community water fluoridation as one of 10 great
public health achievements of the 20th
century. The list of achievements, which also
includes vaccinations and control of
infectious diseases, was developed to highlight
significant contributions that impact the
health and well being of the public. Additionally,
in 2001, the CDC restated,
“Community water fluoridation is a safe, effective and inexpensive
way to prevent dental
caries.” The CDC not only recommended continuation of fluoridation
but also called for
its adoption in additional U.S. communities.
In
August 2002, the U.S. Task Force on Community
Preventive Services concluded that
the evidence for the effectiveness of fluoridation
is strong based on the number and
quality of studies that have been done, the
magnitude of observed benefits and the
consistency of the findings. The Task Force
issued a strong recommendation that water
fluoridation be included as part of a comprehensive
population-based strategy to prevent
or control tooth decay in communities.
The American
Dental Association (ADA) continues to endorse
fluoridation of
community water supplies as safe and effective
for preventing tooth decay. This support
has been the Association’s position since policy was first adopted
in 1950. Based on data
for 2000, approximately 162 million people
(two-thirds of the population) in the United
States are served by public water systems that
are fluoridated. The ADA, along with
state and local dental societies, continues
to work with federal, state, and local agencies
to increase the number of communities benefiting
from water fluoridation.
For more information
regarding fluoride and fluoridation, visit
the American Dental
Association’s “Fluoride and Fluoridation” Web site
at http://www.ada.org/goto/fluoride.
January 2004
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