Fluoride Myths Debunked

Myth: FLUORIDE DOESN’T BELONG IN DRINKING WATER.

THE TRUTH:

Fluoride occurs naturally in water, though rarely at the optimal level to protect teeth.

THE FACTS

Fluoride exists naturally in virtually all water supplies and even in various brands of bottled water.

The debate seems to revolve around the amount of fluoride we additional add in our water. There are proven benefits for public health that come from having the optimal level of fluoride in the water — just enough to protect our teeth. In 2011, federal health officials offered a new recommended optimal level for water fluoridation: 0.7 parts per million.

Myth: “OUR CITY COUNCIL CAN SAVE MONEY BY ENDING FLUORIDATION OF OUR WATER SYSTEM.”

THE TRUTH:

Fluoridation is one of the most cost-effective health strategies ever devised.

THE FACTS

A community that stops fluoridating or never starts this process will find that local residents end up spending more money on decay-related dental problems. Evidence shows that for most cities, every $1 invested in fluoridation saves $38 in unnecessary treatment costs.

A Texas study confirmed that the state saved $24 per child, per year in Medicaid expenditures because of the cavities that were prevented by drinking fluoridated water.

A Colorado study showed that water fluoridation saved the state nearly $149 million by avoiding unnecessary treatment costs. The study found that the average savings were roughly $61 per person.