CDC: Almost 70% Get Fluoridated Water
Nearly 70 percent of U.S. residents who get water from community water systems now receive fluoridated water, according to a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The proportion of the U.S. population receiving fluoridated water, about 184 million people, increased from 65.8 percent in 1992 to 69.2 percent in 2006, said the study in a recent issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports.
"Community water fluoridation is an equitable, cost-effective, and cost-saving method of delivering fluoride to most people," said Dr. William Maas, director of CDC's Division of Oral Health. "We've seen some marked improvements; however, there are still too many states that have not met the national goal. The national goal is that 75 percent of U.S. residents who are on community water systems be receiving fluoridated water by 2010."
Fluoride, a naturally occurring compound in the environment, can reduce or prevent tooth decay. 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).
The report, "Populations Receiving Optimally Fluoridated Public Drinking Water-United States 1992-2006," provides the most recent information on the status of fluoridated water by state. Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia have met or exceeded national objectives, while 25 states need improvements. Three states (Colorado, Delaware and Nebraska) that previously reached the national objective dropped below the target by 2006.
For more information on fluoridation and oral health, visit www.cdc.gov/oralhealth.