December 16, 2015
The CDA and Oral Health Colorado (OHCO) launched this week, Colorado Fluoride Facts, a website and set of social media tools that communicate about the benefits, safety and support of community water fluoridation in Colorado. Because of the challenges to this proven public health benefit across Colorado—which have stretched from Loveland to Denver and across to Montrose—the CDA and OHCO developed the online tools to better educate elected officials, community members and supporters about fluoridation.
The site was written and designed with collaboration from the American Dental Association, CDA and OHCO. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Oral Health Unit also provided data.
“Community water fluoridation is one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century and a great service to our communities,” said Greg Hill, executive director of the CDA. “It is one of the most trusted public health measures—supported by Colorado dentists and physicians living in our communities, as well as organizations like the American Dental Association, American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.”
Some of the key features on the site include:
• In Your Community—This section includes a hotlink to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “My Water’s Fluoride” online tool that allows for searches by state, county and water provider. It shows fluoridation levels and statistics about each water system. This section also instructs visitors on how to contact Colorado’s “rapid response team” about getting involved and supporting fluoridation.
• Fluoride Champions—This resource includes quotes and other information from the many community water fluoridation champions in Colorado and the U.S. and around the world. Respected organizations, health experts, scientists, political leaders and other trusted voices are featured here.
• Know the Facts—This section features the key information needed to understand both the safety and effectiveness of fluoridation. Through several different pages, visitors can learn the science and health benefits of fluoride, fluoridation’s history in the U.S. and Colorado and answers to the many questions that frequently arise in fluoridation debates. This section also includes a comprehensive FAQ and short articles on the how fluoridation makes good financial and business sense.
“With so much misinformation on the web when it comes to water fluoridation, we felt it was important to create the ‘go to’ website in Colorado, developed by Coloradans, that provides the facts when it comes to fluoride,” Hill said.
The site will be mobile and tablet friendly so elected officials and advocates can read and use the information during public meetings, hearings and other venues where fluoridation is debated. The site is paired with Facebook and Twitter to help outreach in communities involved in fluoridation issues.