Fluoride has made national headlines recently, which may be leaving your patients with questions and concerns. The CDA encourages you to consider incorporating additional chairside education for all of your patients about the safety and oral health benefit of optimally fluoridated water. Download these two helpful patient-focused flyers:
- Facts About Fluoride
- How Fluoride Works (English and Spanish version)
The CDA and the ADA still staunchly support community water fluoridation as a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay.
Recently, five Colorado communities have had public comment and discussions in city council and other public meetings opposing community water fluoridation. The CDA is involved in each of these communities and is working alongside local dentists. Please increase your awareness of city council/water utility meetings and let the CDA know if community water fluoridation is a topic in these forums. The CDA is happy to help provide research, talking points and testimony at these meetings. Please contact CDA Director of Government Relations Lauren Harvey at lauren@cdaonline.org if the CDA can help your community.
Rumblings questioning the safety of community water fluoridation started this summer when a report was released by the Department of Health and Human Service’s National Toxicology Program, followed by a ruling from a federal judge. The “Monograph on the State of Science Concerning Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopment and Cognition” found that drinking water at more than twice the recommended limit is “consistently associated” with lower IQ in children. The report noted that the findings are limited to fluoride exposures that are more than double (≥1.5 mg/L) what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends for the optimal level of community water fluoridation (0.7mg/L). An ADA expert committee reviewed this report and found there is no evidence to support making changes to community water fluoridation practices.
