Academy of General Dentistry Reiterates Support of Water Fluoridation
Warning Changes Could Impact Public Health
November 26, 2024—The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) maintains that fluoride, when used appropriately, is safe and effective in preventing and controlling dental decay and expresses concern over recent statements by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, MD, to end community water fluoridation.
“The controlled addition of a fluoride compound to public water supplies is considered to be the most cost-effective way to prevent cavities and fight tooth decay,” said Chethan Chetty, DDS, MAGD, AGD President, “AGD is reiterating its support of this important health measure and cautioning communities and other government agencies from modifying water fluoridation programs. By drinking optimally fluoridated water, all members of society — regardless of income, education or ethnicity — can benefit from better oral health. We support the use of public funds to assist local and state governments in seeing that their public water supplies are adequately fluoridated.”
The U.S. Health Service has established that the optimal concentration for fluoridation is 0.7 parts per million.1 This range effectively reduces tooth decay while minimizing the occurrence of dental fluorosis. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making teeth more resistant to acids derived from bacteria in the mouth and certain foods and drinks that attack enamel.
According to generally accepted scientific research, fluoride remains safe at the concentrations found in optimally fluoridated water and is a community health measure that benefits children and adults. Regular use throughout life will help protect teeth against decay. All water supplies, including bottled water, should have appropriate fluoride levels. All fluoridated items, including toothpaste, should be used as recommended by a dentist.
Tooth decay affects more children in the United States than any other chronic infectious disease, according to the CDC. They state that, if left untreated, tooth decay can cause pain and infections that hinder eating, speaking, playing, and learning. The problem is pervasive, with 92% of adults aged 20 to 64 having had dental caries in their permanent teeth.2 This number has been found to increase when fluoride is removed from community water supplies.
“The AGD encourages state and local governments to provide effective levels of fluoride in public water systems to reduce the prevalence of dental caries in their population,” Chetty concluded.
1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Panel on Community Water Fluoridation. “U.S. Public Health Service Recommendation for Fluoride Concentration in Drinking Water for the Prevention of Dental Caries.” Public Health Reports, vol. 130, no. 4, July–August 2015, pp. 318-331, doi: 10.1177/003335491513000408.
2. “Dental Caries (Tooth Decay) in Adults (Age 20 to 64). National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/dental-caries/adults. Last reviewed July 2018, accessed 21 August 2019.
November 26, 2024—The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) maintains that fluoride, when used appropriately, is safe and effective in preventing and controlling dental decay and expresses concern over recent statements by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, MD, to end community water fluoridation.
“The controlled addition of a fluoride compound to public water supplies is considered to be the most cost-effective way to prevent cavities and fight tooth decay,” said Chethan Chetty, DDS, MAGD, AGD President, “AGD is reiterating its support of this important health measure and cautioning communities and other government agencies from modifying water fluoridation programs. By drinking optimally fluoridated water, all members of society — regardless of income, education or ethnicity — can benefit from better oral health. We support the use of public funds to assist local and state governments in seeing that their public water supplies are adequately fluoridated.”
The U.S. Health Service has established that the optimal concentration for fluoridation is 0.7 parts per million.1 This range effectively reduces tooth decay while minimizing the occurrence of dental fluorosis. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making teeth more resistant to acids derived from bacteria in the mouth and certain foods and drinks that attack enamel.
According to generally accepted scientific research, fluoride remains safe at the concentrations found in optimally fluoridated water and is a community health measure that benefits children and adults. Regular use throughout life will help protect teeth against decay. All water supplies, including bottled water, should have appropriate fluoride levels. All fluoridated items, including toothpaste, should be used as recommended by a dentist.
Tooth decay affects more children in the United States than any other chronic infectious disease, according to the CDC. They state that, if left untreated, tooth decay can cause pain and infections that hinder eating, speaking, playing, and learning. The problem is pervasive, with 92% of adults aged 20 to 64 having had dental caries in their permanent teeth.2 This number has been found to increase when fluoride is removed from community water supplies.
“The AGD encourages state and local governments to provide effective levels of fluoride in public water systems to reduce the prevalence of dental caries in their population,” Chetty concluded.
1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Panel on Community Water Fluoridation. “U.S. Public Health Service Recommendation for Fluoride Concentration in Drinking Water for the Prevention of Dental Caries.” Public Health Reports, vol. 130, no. 4, July–August 2015, pp. 318-331, doi: 10.1177/003335491513000408.
2. “Dental Caries (Tooth Decay) in Adults (Age 20 to 64). National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/dental-caries/adults. Last reviewed July 2018, accessed 21 August 2019.