Chenowith Water PUD Fluoridation Facts

Fluoridation Facts

Straight Talk on Fluoridation

In 2000, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 66% of residents using community water systems, or 162 million people, had access to fluoridated tap water. That number continues to grow. Here are some facts about fluoridation to keep in mind:

North American water systems have added fluoride, a naturally occurring element, to their water supplies since 1945. Since that time, child cavity rates have been reduced substantially where fluoridation has been implemented.

The fluoridation of drinking water is endorsed by the American Dental Association, the American Medical Association, and the US Public Health Service.
The CDC proclaimed fluoridation to be one of the top ten greatest public health achievements of the past century.
As part of its Healthy People 2010 campaign, the US Department of Health and Human Services set a goal of increasing the proportion of the American population served by community water systems with optimally fluoridated water to 75% by the year 2010.
A number of bottled water companies have started adding fluoride to their products because of the health benefits, and they label their bottles so that consumers are aware that fluoride is present.
Drinking water’s fluoride content is limited under federal law. The maximum level of fluoride deemed acceptable by the US Environmental Protection Agency is 4 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The CDC has established the optimal level for fluoride content in drinking water to be in the range of 0.7 mg/L to 1.2 mg/L.
Despite fluoridation benefits to dental health, exposure to high levels of fluoride over a long time can cause dental fluorosis, a condition which leads to mottled tooth enamel, tooth discoloration, and in some cases erosion of affected teeth to the gum line. However, the levels of fluoride found in drinking water are considered very low.

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Fluoridation

Why fluoridate the water?
What is water fluoridation? How does it prevent tooth decay?
Is fluoridation safe?

Why fluoridate the water?

North American water systems have added fluoride, a naturally occurring element, to their water supplies since 1945 to help prevent tooth decay. Since that time, child cavity rates have been reduced by 20-40% where fluoridation has been implemented.
The fluoridation of drinking water is endorsed by the American Dental Association, the American Medical Association, and the US Public Health Service.
The CDC proclaimed fluoridation to be one of the top ten greatest public health achievements of the past century.
As part of its Healthy People 2010 campaign, the US Department of Health and Human Services set a goal of increasing the proportion of the American population served by community water systems with optimally fluoridated water to 75% by the year 2010.

What is water fluoridation? How does it prevent tooth decay?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring ion that is present in water.
Fluoride's effect is topical. It keeps the tooth enamel strong by preventing the loss of important minerals.

Is fluoridation safe?

Yes. Extensive research conducted over the past 50 years has demonstrated that fluoridation of public water supplies is a safe and effective way to reduce the incidence of tooth decay in a community.
A detailed review by the National Research Council in 1993 found no links between low-level fluoride ingestion and occurrences of cancer, kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, immunological disorders, reproductive effects, genetic disorders, or bone fractures.
While exposure to high levels of fluoride over a long time can cause dental fluorosis, a condition that leads to mottled tooth enamel, discoloration, and in some cases erosion the gum line, the fluoride content in your drinking water is limited under federal law and the levels are very low.

Chenowith Water PUD’s most recent fluoridation test showed the following results:

.9 mg/l at Wells #3 & #4 (Main Chenowith Water PUD Wells)

.8 mg/l at Fleck Well/ Cherry Heights/Columbia Crest

Non detected fluoride level at Lower Chenowith/Murray Addition Well