Community Water Fluoridation
"Many U.S. children and adults still suffer needlessly from oral diseases that could be prevented. Proven preventive measures, such as water fluoridation and dental sealants, can markedly reduce dental disease, yet they often remain unavailable to those who most need them." (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1998)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2001 - "Because frequent exposure to small amounts of fluoride each day will best reduce the risk for dental caries [cavities] in all age groups, the work group recommends that all persons drink water with an optimal fluoride concentration and brush their teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste."
National Academy of Sciences, 2002 - “Research provides conclusive evidence that fluoridation of the water supply or supplemental fluoride reduces dental caries, and of all dietary components exhibiting a protective effect against caries, the most effective is fluoride. Exposure to fluoride at all ages prevents dental caries and both pre- and posteruptive exposure to fluoride has cariostatic effects. The earlier children are exposed to fluoridated water or dietary fluoride supplements, the greater the reduction in dental caries in both the primary and permanent teeth.”
Institute of Medicine, 2000 - "In region VII (Pacific), where only 19 percent of the population is served with fluoridated water, the difference in caries scores between fluoridated and nonfluoridated areas was 61 percent."
American Academy of Family Physicians, 2006 - "Fluoridation of public water supplies is a safe, economical, and effective measure to prevent dental caries."
American Academy of Pediatrics, 2006 - "...recommends that all persons drink water with an optimal fluoride concentration...."
American Council on Science and Health, 2006 - "Water fluoridation is an ideal way of improving dental health and controlling health care costs."
American Medical Association, 2006 - "The AMA urges state health departments to consider the value of requiring statewide fluoridation...."
American Public Health Association, 2006 - "We believe that the single most important thing that a community can do for the oral health of its citizens is to fluoridate its drinking water."
World Health Organization, 2006 - "Fluoridation of water supplies significantly improves dental health in regions with low natural fluoride in the water."
Andrew Weil, 2005 - "The easiest, most efficient, and most costeffective means of making sure that children have adequate fluoride to protect against tooth decay is to support fluoridation of your area's water supply."
Oregon ranks 48 out of the 50 states in the percentage of people having access to fluoridated water, with only New Jersey and Hawaii ranking lower.
Organizations Endorsing/Supporting Fluoridation, 2006
National and International Organizations
| National Cancer Institute |
American Osteopathic Association |
| American Cancer Society |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Amer. Acad. of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology |
National Institutes of Health |
| National Health Council |
U.S. Public Health Service |
| World Health Organization |
American Medical Association |
| British Medical Association |
Canadian Medical Association |
| American Nurses’ Association |
American Academy of Pediatrics |
| American Academy of Family Practice |
American Public Health Association |
| American Dietetic Association |
American Society of Clinical Nutrition |
| American Society for Nutritional Sciences |
American Council on Science and Health |
| American School Health Association |
National Congress of Parents and Teachers |
| National Parent Teachers’ Association |
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials |
| Centers for Service in the Public Interest |
Institute of Medicine |
| National Academy of Sciences |
Indian Health Service |
| Head Start Bureau and Early Head Start |
American Osteopathic Association |
| National Downs Syndrome Society |
National Kidney Foundation |
| National Council against Health Fraud |
European Organizations for Caries Research |
| International Association for Dental Research |
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry |
| American Society of Dentistry for Children |
American Dental Association |
| American Dental Hygienists’ Association |
British Dental Association |
| Canadian Dental Association |
|
Local Organizations
| Oregon Department of Human Services |
OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital |
| Oregon Pediatric Society |
Oregon Academy of Family Physicians |
| OHSU School of Dentistry |
Oregon Dental Foundation |
| Center for Health Research |
Oregon Public Health Association |
| Northwest Health Foundation |
Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland |
The Oregon Chapter of the American College of
Emergency Physicians |
Assoc. of Oreg. Public Health Nurse Supervisors |
| American College of Nurse-Midwives/Oregon Ch. |
Oregon Society of Health-System Pharmacists |
| Oregon Dietetic Association |
ODS Health Plans |
| City Club of Portland |
Community Action Organization Head Start |
| Oregon Parent Teacher Association |
YWCA of Greater Portland |
| West District Caring Community |
Multnomah County Health Department |
| Multnomah Education Service District |
Legacy Health System |
| Providence Health System |
Regence BlueCross/BlueShield of Oregon |
| Kaiser Permanente Foundation Health Plan |
Northwest Permanente, PC (Kaiser physicians) |
| Permanente Dental Associates (Kaiser dentists) |
Willamette Dental Group, PC |
| Division of Allied Health, Mt. Hood Comm. College |
The Neighborhood Health Clinics, Inc. |
| Virginia Garcia Memorial Dental Clinic |
Albina Head Start |
| Oregon Head Start |
Capitol Dental Care, Inc. |
| Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Medical Directors Grp. |
OHP Project Prevention |
| OHP Early Childhood Cavities Prevention Coaltn. |
Oregon Dental Association |
| Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association |
Oregon Dental Assistants Association |
| Multnomah Dental Society |
Washington County Dental Society |
| Portland Dental Hygienists’ Association |
Mt. Hood Dental Hygienists’ Association |
| Washington County Dental Hygienists’ Assoc. |
Portland Comm. College/Dental Sciences Dept. |
| Mt. Hood Comm. College Dental Hygiene Prog. |
|
Related Web sites
http://www.healthyteeth.us
http://fluoride.oralhealth.org/
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/index.asp
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/fluoride_links.asp
www.dentalwatch.org/fl/fluoride.html
www.fluorideworks.org
Where does Oregon stand?
Since the inception of water fluoridation in 1945, there have been unsubstantiated claims that water fluoridation causes a variety of health problems - cancer, Downs Syndrome, Alzheimer’s, bone disease, kidney problems, allergic reactions, etc. To ensure the public that these claims are false, the following are a few of the organizations that publicly endorse and/or publish supportive statements regarding the effectiveness and safety of water fluoridation.
