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
15 hours 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
1 days 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
Oral Health Watch
3 days ago
Nearly 45% of parents say they have missed work because of their child’s oral health problems. Good oral health supports healthier kids, stronger families, and greater stability at work and at home. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
4 days ago
Prevention is public health in action. Communities with access to fluoridated water experience reduced oral disease, less mouth pain, and lower overall oral health care lower costs. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
7 days ago
Prevention works. Community water fluoridation and regular dental checkups are smart public health investments that help stop problems before they start, reduce costly treatment, and spare people from needless pain. When we invest in prevention, we build healthier communities and better outcomes ...for everyone. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
1 weeks ago
Where you live should not determine whether you can get dental care. Let's explore innovative approaches and support investments that expand access, strengthen the oral health workforce, and help ensure everyone can get care regardless of ZIP code. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
1 weeks ago
Prevention works. Water fluoridation has helped lower cavity rates among children and contributed to better oral health over a lifetime, including less tooth loss in adulthood. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
1 weeks ago
State oral health investments are a high-impact policy that improves overall population health and saves money long-term by:
🦷 Supporting access to preventive care
🚑 Reducing costly emergency room visits
💚 Addressing health inequities
#teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
1 weeks ago
A cavity is never “just a cavity.” Poor oral health can affect how people eat, sleep, learn, work, and feel every day. Oral health matters because it is deeply connected to overall health, well-being, and quality of life. #teethmatter