Community Water Fluoridation (CWF)
- Water fluoridation is a safe, effective, and evidence-based intervention for the prevention of dental caries. The CDC named fluoridation of drinking water one of 10 great public health interventions of the 20th century because of the dramatic decline in cavities since CWF started in 1945.
- 73% of the U.S. population currently drink from a community water system that contains the controlled addition of fluoride, a mineral that naturally occurs in most water sources at varying levels.
- Dental caries or cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood and can result in pain, infection and tooth loss. The prevalence of dental caries among U.S. youth aged 2–19 years was 46% for 2015-2016.
- Children with poor oral health are more likely to miss school and suffer academically. Children with dental problems are also more likely to exhibit shyness, unhappiness, feeling of worthlessness, and reduced friendliness.
- Many studies point to the effectiveness of CWF in significantly decreasing the prevalence and severity of dental caries. A systematic review of 20 studies by Cochrane showed that water fluoridation decreased tooth decay in both the primary and permanent teeth of children and increased the number of children free of tooth decay.
- CWF is a cost-effective method of delivering caries prevention to a large population.
- CWF reduces oral health disparities. Children and adults from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to suffer from dental caries and less likely to be treated for the disease. When added to drinking water, fluoride can be delivered to communities regardless of socioeconomic status.
- CWF is a safe method of delivering fluoride on a population level. Of the numerous reviews on claims of the potential adverse health effects of water fluoridation, none have found a significant association between CWF and negative health outcomes, including neurologic conditions, cancer, and osteoporosis.
- A recent meta-analysis examining the association between water fluoride and children’s intelligence, showed that fluoride exposures at levels recommended in the U.S. are not associated with lower IQ scores in children.
- For more, see this fact sheet: Fluoride Fast Facts
