 Overview
For over five decades,
the American Dental Association has continuously
endorsed the fluoridation of community
water supplies and the use of fluoride-containing
products as safe and effective measures
for preventing tooth decay. Fluoride
and Fluoridation contains resources that
provide important facts and answer a
myriad of questions. New information
and resources will be added to this area
as they become available. In the following
sections, you will find the latest information
about fluoride and fluoridation.
ADA Fluoridation Resources
ADA’s Community Water Fluoridation Resource List
This listing includes items available from the Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations and the ADA Catalog designed to assist communities in fluoridation efforts. From manuals, to videos, to electronic presentations and continuing education programs–it’s all here!
- ADA’s Community Water Fluoridation Resource List | PDF file/32k
Fluoridation Facts
Fluoridation Facts contains answers to frequently asked questions regarding community water fluoridation. This 71-page booklet is a comprehensive encyclopedia of fluoridation facts with over 350 scientific references. Fluoridation Facts includes information from scientific research in an easy to use question and answer format on the topics of effectiveness, safety, practice and cost-effectiveness of fluoridation. Additionally, the booklet contains a Compendium of more than 125 "National and International Organizations That Recognize the Public Health Benefits of Community Water Fluoridation for Preventing Dental Decay."
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Emerging
Issues (Updated
06/19/08)
Items in this section address emerging issues related to community water fluoridation.
Fluoride Intake and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
New information on fluoride intake and chronic kidney disease is available from the National Kidney Foundation and Kidney Health Australia.
National Kidney Foundation
On its newly revised Fluoride Web page, NKF notes, “The benefits of water and dental products containing fluoride is the prevention of tooth decay and dental cavities in people of all ages.” In discussing potential health risks NKF states, “The risk is likely greatest in areas with naturally high water fluoride levels.” Due to the limited available research on the topic, NKF has not issued specific recommendations regarding fluoride intake and kidney disease and currently has no official position on the optimal fluoridation of water. NKF recommends that “Dietary advice for patients with CKD should primarily focus on established recommendations for sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, energy/calorie, protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake. Fluoride intake is a secondary concern.”
Kidney Health Australia
In a position statement issued in March 2007, Kidney Health Australia concluded 1) there is no evidence that consumption of optimally fluoridated drinking water increases the risk of developing CKD, although only limited studies addressing this issue are available; and 2) there is no evidence that the consumption of optimally fluoridated drinking water poses any risks for people with CKD, although only limited studies addressing this issue are available.
Infants, Fluoride and Bottled Water
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that it will allow bottlers to claim that fluoridated water may reduce the risk of tooth decay. “Whether you drink fluoridated water from the tap or buy it in a bottle, you’re doing the right thing for your oral health,” says ADA executive director James B. Bramson, D.D.S. “Thanks to the FDA’s decision, bottlers can now claim what dentists have long known—that optimally fluoridated water helps prevent tooth decay.”
The ADA agrees with the FDA that this health claim is not intended for use on bottled water marketed to infants for whom lesser amounts of fluoride are appropriate. The appropriate amount of fluoride is essential to help prevent tooth decay. But fluoride intake above optimal amounts creates a risk for enamel (dental) fluorosis in teeth during their development before they erupt through the gums. Read more about how children can get the optimal amount of fluoride to protect their teeth.
Read More:
FDA Health Claim for Fluoridated Water
National Research Council's Report on Fluoride
Water Fluoridation and Bone Cancer
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Additional
Resources
Nature's Way to Prevent
Tooth Decay— Water Fluoridation
Written as a collaborative
effort between the American Dental Association and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Division
of Oral Health, this two-page pamphlet delivers
short and memorable points regarding community water
fluoridation. Please note, because this pamphlet
is not copyrighted it can be tailored to each community's
need by inserting local contact information on the
backside and then copied (black and white or color)
for distribution. It is available in English and
Spanish.
Fluoridation Ordinance—Suggested Provisions
This document contains suggested elements that provide a starting point for communities looking to enact a fluoridation ordinance. Be sure to consult with an attorney as you finalize your local ordinance.
- View Fluoridation Ordinance—Suggested Provisions | PDF file/13k
Statements from Six Leading Health Authorities Regarding Community Water Fluoridation
This one-page item encapsulates the statements on fluoridation made by ADA, AMA, CDC, NIDCR, US Surgeon General, and WHO.
- View Statements from Six Leading Health Authorities Regarding Community Water Fluoridation | PDF file/32k
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ADA News
- ADA Foundation seeks access grant applications (Jan. 16, 2007)
- Fluoridation victories: Campaigns spur local coalitions across the nation
(Dec. 12, 2006)
- Global panel issues fluoride call to action (Dec. 8, 2006)
- ADA offers interim guidance on infant formula and fluoride (Nov. 9, 2006)
- UCSF
study supports fluoride varnish
to prevent tooth decay (Mar.
16, 2006)
- Fluoridation
cases go before California
Supreme Court (Dec. 7,
2005)
- Michigan
town votes to return
fluoridation (Nov.
30, 2005)
- Victory
for ‘benefit of
fluoridation (Nov.
10, 2005)
- Time
article may prompt patient
questions on fluoridation (Oct.
19, 2005)
- Appeals
court affirms Escondido
fluoridation (Sep.
6, 2005)
- CDC,
NIH report improvements
in American oral health (Aug.26,
2005)
- ADA,
CDC offer fluoridation
resources (Aug.
11, 2005)
- Fluoridation:
all smiles (Aug.
8, 2005)
- ADA
offers position statement,
talking points on Harvard
study (July 25, 2005)
- Party
in the Park: ADA, CDC
celebrate 60 years of community
water fluoridation
(July 18, 2005)
- Colorado
coalition results in
win for fluoridation (May
4, 2005)
- Celebrating
60 years of water fluoridation (Jan.
20, 2005)
- ADA
House OKs fluoride varnishes (Nov.
16, 2004)
- California
fluoridation challenge
dismissed (Nov.
1, 2004)
- NJDA
petitions for fluoridation (Nov.
1, 2004)
- New
fluoridation resource
available from ADA (Oct.
14, 2004)
- New
legislation may simplify
fluoridation in California (Oct.
7, 2004)
- Fluoridation
OK'd at the polls (Sept.
20, 2004)
- California
court directs city to
comply with state fluoridation
policy (Aug.
13, 2004)
- Fluoridation
honors awarded at oral
health conference (May
14, 2004)
- Juneau
dentists, citizens lobby
for city to resume fluoridation (April
26, 2004)
- CAPIR
honors fluoridation expert's
work (April 21, 2004)
- Honolulu's
city council votes to ban
fluoridation (Feb.
2, 2004)
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ADA Policies and Statements
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Fluoridation Links
The ADA Council on Access, Prevention,
and Interprofessional Relations has
compiled a list of non-ADA Internet
sites that provide information on
fluoride and fluoridation issues.
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Fluoridation Status
of U.S. Communities
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Please note: The ADA does not provide specific answers
to individual questions about fees, dental problems, conditions, diagnoses,
treatments or proposed treatments, or requests for research. Information about
dental referrals, complaints and a variety of dental procedures may
be found here. You can also refer to our Frequently
Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.
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