Water fluoridation
When, where, and why should you fluoridate your water?
The benefits of fluoride to your teeth were first discovered in the 1930's. Dentists noticed that the people who drank fluoridated water had less tooth decay than those who drank un-fluoridated water. Since 1945, communities have been adding fluoride to their water supply. Fluoridation involves adjusting the natural level of fluoride in water. The target level of fluoride in the water is 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million. This is about one part of fluoride in one million parts of water. This is comparable to a minute in two years or a cent in ten thousand dollars.
Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first city in the world to have its water fluoridated. This was in 1945 after a fifteen year study showed that water fluoridation reduced tooth decay in children by more than sixty percent. All over the country, adding fluoride to the water has led to the reduction in decay rates. Here are some of the results from the study
- reduction of tooth decay from thirty to sixty percent in children younger than eight
- reduction of tooth decay from twenty to forty percent in children ages eight to twelve
- reduction of tooth decay from fifteen to thirty five percent in older children and adults
With lesser tooth decay cases, fewer teeth have to be filled or extracted and in the long run, dental costs go down.
Nowadays, over sixty percent of people served by public water supplies have adequate levels of fluoride in their water. Out of the fifty largest cities in the Untied States, forty three have water fluoridation systems. In the United States, the cost of fluoridating water annually is fifty cents per person. More than sixty other countries all over the world practice water fluoridation as well.
In 1998, a survey found that seventy percent of Americans supported community water fluoridation. There are still some people who oppose the practice though. Those who oppose the practice say that they are being limited on their freedom of choice. Other people simply misinterpret the scientific information on the safety of fluoride.
To date, more than seventy studies have shown that fluoride reduces the occurrence of tooth decay. Most of the recent studies show that lesser people are getting the benefits of fluoridated water because they are getting fluoride from other sources already. These other sources include toothpaste and mouth rinses. Some food and beverages even have fluoride as well. Since they are made from fluoridated water, they contain fluoride too. Soft drinks and spaghetti sauce now contain fluoride.
Is your water fluoridated?
The simplest way to find out whether your water is fluoridated is to contact your local water district or local water company. They can also tell you the concentration level of the fluoride in your water. Simply check your water bill and you will see the contact numbers of your local water supplier. You can also check out the local government section of your phone book.
Some water filters at home are known to remove significant amounts of fluoride. These reverse osmosis systems and distillation units are known to remove significant amounts of fluoride in water. Other research studies have inconclusive results. Pitcher filters and filters that attach to your water faucet aren't known for removing significant amounts of fluoride. If you want to be certain about your fluoride filtering, you can check with the manufacturer or read the information guide that comes with the product.
If you use a home water-treatment system then you must have the fluoride levels of your water tested every year. You can have it tested through your local or state health department. If they are unavailable then you can have a private laboratory check it for you.