Water Fluoridation

 
Water fluoridation: The addition of fluoride to water supplies that are low in fluoride in order to prevent dental caries. In 2000 the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a part of the NIH (National Institutes of Health), issued a statement that reads in part: "Community water fluoridation is a public health effort that benefits millions of Americans. For more than half a century, water fluoridation has helped improve the quality of life in the U.S. through reduced pain and suffering related to tooth decay, reduced tooth loss, reduced time lost from school and work, and less money spent on dental care...One significant advantage of water fluoridation is that anyone, regardless of socioeconomic level, can enjoy its benefits during their daily lives -- at work, school, and play -- simply by drinking fluoridated water or beverages prepared with fluoridated water. Within the U.S., fluoridated drinking water is also the most cost-effective method for preventing tooth decay. The effectiveness of water fluoridation has been well documented in the scientific literature...numerous studies have proven fluoride's effectiveness in decay prevention in the primary teeth of infants and children, as well as in the permanent teeth of children, adolescents and adults, including senior citizens. As with other nutrients, fluoride is safe and effective when used and consumed properly...fluoridating community water supplies, at optimal levels, is an effective and safe method for preventing tooth decay. Moreover, no credible scientific evidence supports an association between fluoridated water and conditions such as cancer, bone fracture, Down's syndrome, or heart disease as claimed by some opponents of water fluoridation. Community water fluoridation is presently the most cost-effective method for preventing tooth decay. On average, it costs less than $1 annually per person to fluoridate community water systems serving most people in this country." See also: Fluoride.

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