Community Water Fluoridation Status Now Reaches Nearly 70 percent of U.S. Population

Nearly 70 percent of U.S. residents who get water from public water systems now have fluoridated water. The Healthy People 2010 objective is 75 percent. This is the plan that sets health goals for the nation for the year 2010.

Water fluoridation is a low-cost way to bring the benefits of fluoride to all residents of a community.

Fluoride Can Reduce or Prevent Tooth Decay

Fluoride is a naturally occurring compound in the environment. All water naturally contains some fluoride. Adding or maintaining tiny levels of fluoride in drinking water is a safe and effective public health measure to prevent and control tooth decay (dental caries).

Fluoridating water means setting the level of fluoride in the water to the best level for stopping tooth decay. This best level is also called the optimal level. The optimal level is related to the climate and differs across the nation.

Status of Water Fluoridation by State

“Populations Receiving Optimally Fluoridated Public Drinking Water—United States 1992–2006” gives the most recent data on the status of fluoridated water by state. Some highlights of the CDC report:

• Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia have met or exceeded the national objective.
• Twenty-five other states need to fluoridate more communities in order to meet the national objective.

The portion of the U.S. population on public water systems receiving fluoridated water has increased from 62.1 percent in 1992 to 69.2 percent in 2006. About 184 million people now are served by fluoridated public water systems.

Listen to the Podcast

To learn more about community water fluoridation, listen to the podcast “Keep on Smiling.” (5:50) You will learn:

• What effect fluoridation has on the oral health of communities where it is used.
• Why some communities don’t add fluoride to their water.
• How community water fluoridation is managed.

Learn More about National Health Goals

For more information on national health goals for 2010, visit the Healthy People 2010 Web site.

Related links….

Background on Community Water Fluoridation

Healthy People 2010/Oral Health

Surgeon General Support for Fluoridated Water

Page last reviewed: October 8, 2008
Page last modified: August 12, 2008
Content source: Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion