Fluoride and Fluoridation
Community water fluoridation has been cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of the top ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th Century.
Through the efforts of multiple stakeholders, CDA leadership, legislative advocacy, and funding from the California Endowment, nearly 23 million California residents (59.3% of the population) receive fluoridated water, a significant increase from 17% in the 1990s.
Even with our great progress, California ranks 37th among states in the percentage of the population receiving fluoridated water, and California’s children have some of the highest rates of decay in the nation. CDA remains committed to helping California residents have stronger, healthier teeth.
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This manual provides guidance for local health jurisdictions in California in the promotion of community water fluoridation for oral health based on generally accepted, peer-reviewed, scientific evidence and experience.
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides extensive information about the science, practice, and benefits of community water fluoridation.
The general aim of this research was to determine whether cessation of community water fluoridation (CWF) increased oral health disparities, as measured by dental caries procedures and restoration costs for children and adolescents
Studies conducted by the CDC reaffirm that widespread community water fluoridation prevents cavities and saves money.
In 2014, the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics published Fluoride and Dental Caries Prevention in Children, an easy to understand, comprehensive resource on the benefits and proper use of fluoride for caries prevention in children.
Fluoridescience.org is dedicated to balanced reviews of fluoride studies and communicating the qualities and summaries of the scientific evidence for professional communities that may engage in patient care and/or public health services.
CDA sponsored legislation supports expanded dental disease prevention in California's schools and other public programs.
The Campaign for Dental Health provides extensive and excellent educational resources on community water fluoridation.
The California State Water Resources Control Board provides info about fluoridation in California water.
The April 2015 edition of the Journal of the American Dental Association features an innovative study utilizing system dynamics modeling to measure the disease reduction and costs savings of community water fluoridation in the New York State Medicaid program.