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Community Water Fluoridation

Community Water Fluoridation

Water fluoridation is one of the best examples of a public health preventive intervention at the community level. All infants and children who drink fluoridated water benefit from systemic ingestion by incorporating fluoride into their developing teeth, as well as from important topical effects. Unfortunately, many families live in communities without fluoridated water, and many use multiple or alternative sources of water (for example, bottled or processed water), complicating the delivery of fluoride to infants and children.

This collection of selected resources offers high-quality information about fluoridated community water. Use the tools below for further searching, or contact us for personalized assistance.

OHRC Publications

This section contains OHRC-produced materials.


Details

National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness. 2017. I like my teeth [oral health posters]. Elk Grove Village, IL: National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness, 8 items

National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness
American Academy of Pediatrics 345 Park Boulevard
Itasca, IL 60143

Telephone: (888) 227-5125
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/ncechw

These posters for consumers share simple, positive messages about brushing children’s teeth with fluoridated toothpaste, drinking fluoridated water, eating a healthy diet, and talking to the dentist or doctor about fluoride treatments for children. The posters are available in English and in Spanish.


Details

National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety. 2021–. Brush up on oral health. Washington, DC: National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety, multiple items

HeadStart.gov
Telephone: (866) 763-6481
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://headstart.gov
Available from the website.

This series of tip sheets is intended for Head Start staff to use to support the oral health of children and pregnant people enrolled in Head Start programs and their families. The tip sheets include up-to-date practices and practical tips to promote good oral health. Health and social service professionals interested in improving the oral health of children and pregnant people enrolled in Head Start and their families may also find Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheets helpful.


Details

National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety. 2016-. Healthy habits for happy smiles. Washington, DC: National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety, 42 items

HeadStart.gov
Telephone: (866) 763-6481
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://headstart.gov
Available from the website.

This series of handouts for pregnant women and parents of infants and young children provides simple tips on nutrition and oral health issues. Topics include brushing a young child’s teeth, choosing healthy drinks, encouraging children to drink water with fluoride, giving children healthy snacks, taking care of oral health for pregnant women, and taking care of an infant’s oral health. The series is written in simple language and is available in English and in Spanish.

     


OHRC Library

This section contains recent materials, not including OHRC-produced materials.


Details

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. 2023. Fluoride therapy (rev. ed.). Chicago, IL: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 7 pp

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60611-2637

Telephone: (312) 337-2169
Fax: (312) 337-6329
Website: http://www.aapd.org
Available from the website.

This document provides recommendations to help health professionals and parents make decisions concerning appropriate use of fluoride as part of comprehensive oral health care for infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special health care needs. Methods are presented, and background information about fluoride (community water fluoridation, fluoride supplements, topical fluoride treatments, and silver diamine fluoride) is included.


Details

American Fluoridation Society. 2022. Idaho's optimal fluoridation plan 2022: A guide for adjusting fluoride in drinking water across the state to optimal levels to improve oral health outcomes for all Idahoans. Boise, ID: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Oral Health Program, 34 pp

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Oral Health Program
P.O. Box 83720 450 West State Street
Boise, ID 83720-0036

Telephone: (800) 926-2588
Website: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/healthy-infants-children/oral-health
Available from the website.

This guide provides information about adjusting fluoride in drinking water across the state to optimal levels to improve oral health outcomes for all Idahoans. The guide introduces the issue and covers the following topics: an overview of Healthy People 2030, including its recognition that community-level interventions like community water fluoridation can help improve oral health by emphasizing healthy equity; an overview of community water fluoridation in Iowa; goals, objectives, and an action plan; and program management. Promotional resources are provided.


Details

American Fluoridation Society. 2022. Mississippi community water fluoridation plan 2022-2025. Jackson, MS: Mississippi State Department of Health, 40 pp

Mississippi State Department of Health
570 East Woodrow Wilson Drive
Jackson, MS 39216

Telephone: (601) 576-7400
Secondary Telephone: (866) 458-4948
Website: http://www.msdh.state.ms.us
Available from the website.

This report provides information on Mississippi's community water fluoridation (CWF) plan for 2022–2025. The report offers background information on fluoride, an overview of fluoride in Mississippi's water, and Healthy People 2030 goals. Also discussed are CWF operations in the state, goals, objectives, and an action plan, and program management.


Details

Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors. 2016. Best practice approach: Community water fluoridation (upd. ed.). Reno, NV: Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, 22 pp

Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors
3858 Cashill Boulevard
Reno, NV 89509

Telephone: (775) 626-5008
Fax: (775) 626-9268
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.astdd.org
Available from the website.

This report discusses community water fluoridation and provides guidelines and recommendations related to the topic, research evidence, best practice criteria, and state practice examples. A dental public health approach to community water fluoridation, activities of a community water fluoridation program, and the extent to which to community water fluoridation is used are discussed.


Details

Hannan C, Espinoza L. 2024. Statement on the evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of community water fluoridation. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4 pp

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30329-4027

Telephone: (800) 232-4636
Secondary Telephone: (888) 232-6348
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.cdc.gov
Available from the website.

This statement focuses on the safety and benefits of community water fluoridation (CWF). Contents include evidence showing that CWF programs are an effective, cost-saving, and safe intervention for preventing tooth decay and promoting oral health across the lifespan. The effectiveness of CWF compared with other methods of fluoride delivery is discussed, along with the return on investment of CWF, both for families and for the health care system as a whole. Risks that may accompany CWF are addressed.


Details

Stocks M, Pollick H, Jackson R, Kumar J. 2022. California fluoridation manual. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Public Health, Office of Oral Health, 55 pp

California Department of Public Health, Office of Oral Health
MS Code 8305 P.O. Box 997377, MS 0500
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377

Telephone: (916) 558-1784
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DCDIC/CDCB/Pages/OralHealthProgram/OralHealthProgram.aspx
Available from the website.

This manual provides information about community water fluoridation (CWF) in California. It explains what CWF is and discusses its history in the state. It guides users through a step-by-step process of advocating for CWF. Topics include strategy, education and advocacy, policymaking, preventing or reversing a rollback, capital funding, and communicating with operations.

     

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