It is without question that community water fluoridation in the city of Seattle, the United States, and throughout the world is a bona fide public health success story.
This year marks 48 years of water fluoridation in Seattle, and Oral Health Watch wanted to commemorate this milestone by focusing on this safe, cost-effective, and beneficial public health measure.
Fluoride helps strengthen teeth by making them more resistant to tooth decay. Adding a minute amount of fluoride to drinking water helps to ensure that people of all ages and income levels have access to this tooth-saving measure.
More than 70 years of study, research, and practical application has shown that water fluoridation safely reduces tooth decay by at least 25 percent in children and adults.
Water fluoridation has also proven to be a cost-effective health tool that saves taxpayers, businesses and families money. Studies conducted by the American Dental Association (ADA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that every dollar invested in fluoridation saves $38 worth of dentistry down the road.
In fact, adding optimum levels of fluoride to public drinking water has improved people’s oral health so profoundly that the CDC listed water fluoridation as one of the Top 10 Great Public Health Achievements of the last century, along with workplace safety, immunizations, motor vehicle safety, and food safety.
Today, about 75 percent of all Americans on public water systems have fluoridated water. In King County, the number is higher with about 80 percent of residents enjoying the benefits of stronger teeth through fluoridated water.
But, don’t just take Oral Health Watch’s word for it.
The four the largest professional health organizations in the United States – the ADA, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics – all stand behind community water fluoridation. More than 63 health and science organizations agree that fluoride fights cavities.
Want to learn more about the benefits of water fluoridation? You can learn why pediatricians support water fluoridation by clicking here. The ADA offers an in-depth analysis of water fluoridation here. And Arcora Foundation, the Foundation of Delta Dental of Washington, provides additional resources on the benefits of water fluoridation.
Oral Health Watch
10 hours ago
Please share. The @seattlekingcountyclinic, a 4-day pop-up clinic at @seattlecenter and made possible by Seattle Center Foundation and caring volunteers and donors, is next week providing free dental, vision, and medical care. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
4 days ago
Grateful for the public health professionals whose dedication helps build healthier communities through prevention, education, and expanding access to care. Our communities are better because of you. #PublicHealth #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
5 days ago
Public health helps communities thrive. It prevents illness, promotes well-being, and creates the conditions for healthier lives. When we invest in public health, we invest in stronger communities. #PublicHealthWeek #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
5 days ago
Community water exemplifies public health at its best: effective, equitable and preventive. Public health is essential to fostering healthier communities and advancing health equity. #teethmatter #PublicHealthWeek
Oral Health Watch
6 days ago
Every child deserves a chance to grow up cavity free. Tooth decay is largely preventable but prevention only works when families have access to tools like water fluoridation, preventive care and oral health support. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
1 weeks ago
Does oral health care access matter for caregivers and parents? 💯 Kids learn by example, and when they see the adults in their lives make oral health a priority, children are more likely to do the same. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
2 weeks ago
Oral health care access can shape economic opportunity and stability. When people cannot get the preventive and restorative dental care they need, the consequences can affect confidence, employment, financial security, and how others perceive you. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
2 weeks ago
Good oral health starts early, and Washington’s Access to Baby & Child Dentistry (ABCD) program connects income-eligible families with providers trained to care for young kids, helping set children on a lifelong path to better oral health.
#teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
2 weeks ago
The best way to fight cavities is to stop them before they start. Brush. Floss. Drink fluoridated water. Skip sugary drinks. Preventing decay is easier, less painful, and far less costly than treating oral disease later. #teethmatter