Fluoride is Effective

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Did you know that tooth decay is reduced by up to 40 percent among children and adults in communities with fluoridated water?

Fluoride is an effective part of cavity prevention.

Both the U.S. Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm an up to 40 percent decrease in tooth decay under fluoride's effective part of cavity prevention.

Drinking fluoridated water is effective because fluoride protects your teeth in two important ways: systemically and topically. For optimal dental health, your teeth need to receive fluoride directly on the surface of the tooth as well as through your body to strengthen teeth from the inside.

Simply by drinking fluoridated water, you and your family can benefit from fluoridation’s cavity protection whether at home, work or school.

Fluoridation can also save millions of dollars in health care costs and eliminate needless pain and suffering.⁷

Quick facts

The reduction in costs of fillings (dental restorations) greatly exceeds the cost of water fluoridation in communities of any size.⁸ Public water fluoridation costs between $.50 and $3.00 per person annually.⁹

Every $1 invested in community fluoridation yields approximately $38 savings in dental treatment costs (CDC).⁵

“Kids with poor dental health miss more school, can be more distracted and can even have speech problems. As a teacher, I see first-hand how dental health can affect a child’s ability to learn and succeed. Our children deserve every health protection available.”
- 6th Grade Teacher, Seattle, WA

Fluoridation Benefits