- Fluoride is a naturally occurring element.
- Water systems throughout the United States have added fluoride to their
water supplies since 1945. This process is known as "fluoridation".
- American water supplies have low concentration levels of fluoride.
- Fluoride, when administered at low levels of concentration, is proven to
help prevent tooth decay.
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The American Dental Association (ADA) endorsed fluoridation in 1950,
reaffirming its endorsement in 1997. The American Medical Association
endorsed fluoridation in 1951, and reaffirmed its endorsement in 1996.
The U.S. Public Health Service has also endorsed fluoridation. The
American Water Works Association (AWWA) endorsed fluoridating public
water systems in 1976. The endorsement was reaffirmed in 1982.
- In April 1999, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
proclaimed fluoridation to be one of the top ten greatest public health
achievements of the century.
- In 1995, the U.S. Surgeon General estimated that 62 percent of Americans
--approximately 167 million people-- had access to fluoridated water.
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Drinking water's fluoride content is limited under federal law. The
maximum level of fluoride deemed acceptable by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) is 4 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The CDC has
established the "optimal level" for fluoride content in drinking water to
be the in the range of 0.7 mg/L to 1.2 mg/L.
- Despite fluoridation's benefits to dental health, exposure to high levels
of fluoride can cause dental fluorosis, a condition which leads to mottled
tooth enamel, tooth discoloration, and in some cases erosion of effected teeth
to the gumline.
- The US Department of Health and Human Services has not recognized a causal link
between low-level fluoride exposure and occurrences of cancer, brain damage or
osteoporosis.
- The USEPA has found a link between prolonged exposure to high-level fluoride
concentration and skeletal fluorosis, a condition similar to osteoporosis, as
well as digestive and nervous system disorders.
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